Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Module 1 The CHPS Concept
64
Box 1.4.6: Sayings on leadership
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
It’s only a wise man who leaves an inheritance for his children’s children
The mighty leader is slow in pronouncing judgment
When bad men rule, honour is lost
The thumb said ‘lets go now’; the little finger said “let’s wait till tomorrow, it’s late”
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment
Look at a weedy farm, it has no farmer
When the wicked rise to power people go into hiding
By justice a king gives his country stability and his subjects peace
Fathers sharpen their children as iron sharpened iron
Hitting people on their heads to follow you is assault, not leadership.
Qualities of Team leaders
Some qualities of leaders which we can gather from the sayings in Box 1.4.6 are:
Leaders/leadership
• Give vision and direction
• Make the group members feel secure
• Help people to come out and be themselves
• Ensure justice for all team members
• ‘Sharpen those led’ or followers – like skill, knowledge, character, etc.
• Encourage people to work
Leadership is very important in team work. Leaders need to lead and followers need to
follow but a leader must be flexible and not always exercise absolute control. A leader is no
more if he has no team or followers. There must be a balance between the effective leader
and an effective team. The leaders work as part of the team i.e. with them and not for them.
Figure 1.4.2 below shows a leader with flexible control and a leader with absolute control.