By
Fred
MUJEM
Leadership
is
about
humanity.
And
today,
I
ask
one
question:
Is
this
love
or
hypocrisy?
There
lived
a
woman
from
overseas,
a
powerful
leader
known
as
the
Pride
Queen.
And
there
was
a
man
named
Innocent,
a
hardworking
employee
trying
to
do
his
job.
But
one
day,
Innocent
became
sick
and
found
himself
bedridden
in
hospital.
At 6:17
in
the
morning,
he
sent
his
leader
a
message: “
Madam,
I
am
admitted
to
hospital.
I
cannot
report
to
work
today.”
He
needed
understanding.
He
needed
compassion.
He
needed
someone
to
recognise
his
suffering.
But
two
minutes
later… (
Pause.)
A
WARNING
LETTER!
A
warning
letter
to
a
man
lying
sick
in
hospital.
He
needed
kindness,
but
received
punishment.
He
needed
compassion,
but
encountered
authority.
Of
course,
workplaces
need
rules,
and
employees
must
be
accountable.
But
tell
me,
Pride
Queen…
Was
there
no
time
to
ask
questions?
Was
there
no
opportunity
to
understand?
Was
there
no
room
for
humanity?
Is
this
love
or
hypocrisy?
Young
leaders,
listen
carefully.
Think
about
the
late
President
Idi
Amin
of
Uganda.
Think
about
the
late
President
Jomo
Kenyatta,
the
first
President
of
Kenya.
Think
about
the
late
President
John
F.
Kennedy,
the 35
th
President
of
the
United
States
of
America.
These
men
once
occupied
powerful
offices.
Today,
they
are
gone.
But
tell
me…
Does
Uganda
have
a
vacant
presidency
because
Idi
Amin
died?
Does
Kenya
have
no
president
because
Jomo
Kenyatta
passed
away?
Has
the
United
States
left
its
presidency
vacant
because
John
F.
Kennedy
died?
No!
Their
countries
continued.
Their
institutions
continued.
Other
leaders
came
and
took
their
places.
So,
what
lesson
do
we
learn?
The
office
is
greater
than
the
individual
occupying
it.
Today,
you
may
be
a
director.
Tomorrow,
someone
else
may
take
your
chair.
Today,
you
may
give
orders.
Tomorrow,
you
may
be
the
one
asking
for
understanding.
Never
confuse
your
position
with
your
identity.
Never
use
temporary
power
to
create
permanent
wounds.
Because
one
day,
you
will
leave
that
office,
but
people
may
never
forget
how
you
treated
them.
Imagine
a
powerful
lion
fighting
a
tiny
rat
and
celebrating
after
defeating
it.
What
great
victory
has
the
lion
achieved?
True
greatness
is
not
crushing
someone
weaker.
True
leadership
is
not
measured
by
how
easily
you
can
punish
a
junior
employee.
A
wise
leader
corrects
without
humiliating.
A
strong
leader
is
firm
without
being
cruel.
A
fair
leader
follows
the
rules
while
considering
the
circumstances.
Compassion
is
not
weakness.
Fairness
is
not
incompetence.
Humility
is
a
sign
of
wisdom. ###
WHAT
DOES
GOD
TEACH
US?
The
Bible
teaches
us
in 1
Corinthians 13:4–5
that
love
is
patient
and
kind,
that
love
is
not
proud
and
does
not
dishonour
others.
In
Colossians 3:12–13,
we
are
encouraged
to
show
compassion,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness
and
patience.
And
James 1:5
reminds
us
to
ask
God
for
wisdom
when
we
lack
it.
So,
leaders,
pray
for
wisdom.
Do
not
let
education
replace
compassion.
Do
not
let
authority
destroy
humility.
Do
not
let
pride
silence
your
conscience.
If
an
employee
makes
a
mistake,
correct
them
fairly.
If
an
employee
is
dishonest,
follow
the
proper
procedures.
But
when
someone
is
genuinely
sick,
take
time
to
understand
before
you
punish.
Remember,
employees
are
human
beings,
not
machines.
They
have
families,
struggles,
fears
and
feelings. ###
THE
FINAL
QUESTION (
Piano
becomes
very
soft.
Speak
slowly.)
Now,
Pride
Queen…
Imagine
Innocent
was
your
own
son,
lying
helpless
in
that
hospital
bed.
Imagine
receiving
his
message
at 6:17
a.
m.,
telling
you
that
he
was
admitted
to
hospital.
And
two
minutes
later,
he
receives
a
warning
letter.
Would
you
still
be
proud
of
that
decision?
Would
you
still
choose
punishment
over
compassion?
Would
you
want
another
leader
to
treat
your
own
child
that
way? (
Pause.)
Your
title
will
not
last
forever.
Your
chair
will
not
remain
yours
forever.
But
the
memories
you
leave
in
people's
hearts
may
last
much
longer
than
your
position.
So,
every
leader
listening
today,
ask
yourself:
Am
I
leading
with
love,
or
am
I
using
authority
to
hide
my
pride?
Am
I
correcting
people
fairly,
or
am
I
humiliating
those
who
cannot
defend
themselves?
And
if
Innocent
were
your
own
son,
would
you
still
have
issued
that
warning
letter? (
Pause.
Almost
a
whisper.)
Tell
me…
Was
it
love…
or
hypocrisy
wearing
the
face
of
leadership?
By
Fred
MUJEM