Today 21st September is a holiday here in Ghana. It’s known as founders day. It’s a day set aside to celebrate the founding fathers of Ghana. Those who helped Ghana achieve independence from the British colonials. 

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My church decided to host a Leadership Seminar/Retreat for all in position and everyone interested in holding a position. Unfortunately, very few people came but it was a wonderful event. I really learnt a lot and wanna share with you all. I hope you take something from it. This leadership training can be applied anywhere not just in church. It can be used in businesses, organizations and even in our personal lives.



**Leadership** is the  ability of a person to initiate a vision and rally the support of people to achieve the vision whiles providing skills needed to bring the vision into reality.

<center> http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2161798/images/o-LEADER-facebook.jpg
[source](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/traits-that-make-a-leader_n_5959298.html)</center>

**Leadership theories**
The great man theory.
This theory assumes that the capacity of leadership is inherit. Great leaders are born and not learnt.

Trait theory
This trait assumes that people inherit certain qualities and traits that makes them better suitors for leadership. The weakness of this theory is that if particular traits makes one a leader, how come there are others with such traits who are not lead

Contingency theory 
This theory focuses on particular variables related to the environment that might determine which particular style is good for a specific situation. This theory states that there are different leadership styles for every environment.

**Differences between managers and leaders**
1. Managers administer, leaders innovate.
2. Managers ask how and when, leaders ask what and why.
3. Managers focus on system, leaders focus on people.
4. Managers do things right, leaders do the right thing.
5. Managers maintain, leaders develop.
6. Managers rely on control, leaders inspire trust.
7. Managers have short term perspective, leaders have long term perspective.
8. Managers accept the status quo, leaders challenge the status quo.
9. Managers imitate, leaders originate.

**Keys of leadership success**
1. Leadership is about making things happen or achieving results. There’s no point working hard without achieving results.
2. Listen and understand the issues then lead.
3. You must answer three critical questions...where are we going?..how are we going to get there?...what is my role?
4. Master the skills that will allow you to work anywhere in today’s dynamic world.
5. Have a curious mind as curiosity is the prerequisite for continuous learning and improvement.
6. Make other people feel appreciated and important.

<center> http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1499774/images/o-LEADERSHIP-facebook.jpg
[source](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-sheninger/great-leaders-stand-out_b_9516084.html)</center>

**Qualifications of a christian leader**
1. God uses a person with a dream or vision. Genesis 37:5 a visionary leader always have a goal. If you don’t have a goal, that’s a goal by accident. Nothing happens until someone starts dreaming. A group will never outgrow the vision of a leader.
2. God uses a person who is willing to risk failure. Risk takers, care takers and undertakers. Fear of failure is not failing to reach a goal but failing to set a goal. Proverbs 29:25
3. God uses the person who expects the church to grow. Never let impossible situations limit you. Psalm 37:5
4. God uses the person who never gives up. Persistence is faith in action. Failure is never final until you give up. You don’t measure a man by his gift, but by what it takes to discourage him. Great people are ordinary people with extraordinary sense of determination.

**The Mickey’s 7S**
Skills are needed for managers and staff
Staff needs to be trained and share values of the organization.
Shared values are what the organization believes in and is shared by everyone in the organization.
Structure is needed in an organization and must be understood by all.
Strategy by which things are done.
Systems are soft structures  that reinforce the structures.
Style is dependent on the environment.

Leadership skills which happens to be one of  the S is to be combined with the other 6S to ensure leadership success.

In other words, not withstanding the skills of a leader in the absence of a right structure, strategy, system, staff, shared values and style, no meaningful achievement can take place.

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