Leadership helps us look at each sphere of life positively

1. BALM 100-LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES 1
ASSIGNMENT
1. Using viable examples, explain the challenges of leadership as experienced in your country
(10 Marks)
Our beloved country, Kenya, has so many social injustices of inequality and ethnic favoritism.
Kenya has the notoriety of being one of the most unequal nations in the world. The most defining
character of the Kenyan society is its ethnic and regional disparity in wealth distribution. This is
the most glaring proof that the country, under the leadership of its successive presidents since
independence, has always been bereft of the noble practices of developing the whole nation and
distributing wealth and opportunities fairly within the principles of equity and equality. Well
over 60 per cent of the country’s wealth is concentrated in Nairobi, Kenya’s political and
financial capital.
High poverty levels and governance faults afflicting many governments in developing countries,
including Kenya, have rendered systems, structures and institutions weak and deficient in the
provision of basic services such as health, education, employment, and infrastructure. On this,
Wrong (2009: 51) observes that ‘providing services like health, schools, and roads is one way of
winning approval (political), but such things are very hard to deliver. The capital has continued
to suck in migrants, especially young school and college leavers, who throng the city in the rural-
urban migration trend to escape the poverty that has scarred the country’s rural social landscape.
The problem rests with the deliberate structuring of the Kenyan economy to make it centralized
in Nairobi, which is not only the country’s capital, but also its industrial and commercial hub.
But even for the majority in Nairobi, quality of life is a mirage. The slums are choking with huge
populations living in dehumanizing squalor without basic social amenities and services.
According to the population census of 2009, 12,487,375 people or 32.3 per cent of Kenya’s
population live in urban areas. Nairobi city alone was found to be home to 3,138,369 at the time.
The remaining 26,122,722 or 67.7 per cent live out in countryside.

2. With the new constitutional dispensation, it is hoped that devolution, one of the biggest
milestones in the Kenya’s new constitution, will decongest the creaking Nairobi as some of its
residents seek opportunities in other counties, and also halt the unrelenting exodus of people to
the capital and other urban centres. This will only be realized with immense pressure on the
positive political leadership
According to United Nations and World Bank reports, Kenya is among the most unequal
societies in the world. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to gape ever wider. In an
article by John Njiraini, quoting a survey conducted by a research firm, Consumer Insight in
2010, the lower middle and bottom class income groups constitute 80 per cent of Kenya’s
homes, up from 73 per cent five years ago. This shows that only 20 per cent of Kenyans fall in
the middle class, upper middle class and upper class segments. The survey highlights regional
disparities, showing that regions have not had the same treatment in terms of national wealth
allocation, infrastructure development, distribution of public service positions and opportunities.
Independent Kenya has been defined by inequitable distribution of resources to regions and
ethnic communities, whereby the community of the incumbent president is favored. In Readings
on Inequality in Kenya: sectorial Dynamics and Perspectives, Duncan Okello and M. J. Gitau
explain that equality of opportunity does not imply equal outcomes – with equal opportunity
being a situation where, at least theoretically, no individual has more rights and liberties than
others. They rightly acknowledge that this would not guarantee or even lead to similar
socioeconomic patterns in society; for people are inherently different, have different talents and,
at the very least, may make different choices. What cannot be tolerated is giving either a
community or a region a head start in a manner that disadvantages the rest who merit the same
treatment. Looking at the disparities in development, particularly for infrastructure development,
it is clear that political patronage has played the major factor. Similarly, state corporations are
staffed with people from the dominant political community.

3. Another way is to play the ethnic identity card’ and indeed the gender card. Many political
leaders have over the years been constrained to fill this lacuna and often times have been heard
making wild promises of service delivery to their constituents during election periods. This
tendency has caused a shift of the electorate’s expectations of service delivery from the
government to the political leader. The number of fund raising events a leader is able to attend
and the amount of money contributed, therefore, defines a good political leader (Wrong, 2009).
In addition, the socio-cultural nature of our traditional communities has made family/
community/tribal/lineage ties become deeply embedded in the concept of our social
responsibilities. Political leaders are not exempt from this phenomenon, which underscores the
patronage system. As such, the political leaders are similarly confronted by this pressure to
appear conscientious of the plight of their kinship, which ultimately affects their being defined as
‘good leaders’. Dorman (2006) calls this a ‘patrimonial system’ in which power is centralized in
one individual, applying it for his or her self-interest, and loyal supporters are rewarded and
selectively favored (see also Wrong, 2009). Furthermore, politics continues to be conducted
within a closely knit network of dependent relationships. Although this type of system occurs
elsewhere, it is particularly prevalent in the majority of African states where political power is
personal and politics is a type of business, as are political positions (Kebonang, 2005; Wrong,
2009).
Gender is also another significant factor that determines the definition of who is a good/ effective
political leader in Kenya (Nzomo, 2003a). Many scholars who have approached the question of
leadership differences between men and women through the social construct of gender, or traits
associated with masculinity and femininity, and what we think about in terms of leadership
usually falls within ‘masculine’ traits. The prejudices of the patriarchal society have presumed
that only men make good leaders because of their character (perceived as strong, focused,
assertive and dominant) vis a vis women’s perceived non-leadership characteristics (emotional,
careful, timid, etc.).

4. We can’t close our eyes on the corruption levels and the difficult that comes with curbing it.
None of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) had the support that is
fundamental in addressing the vice from the political hierarchy. They have actually left office
miserably and prematurely due to the fighting back resolve of the leadership. With the current
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), we are yet to see how it settles down.
If the electorate keep away the ethnical and gender cards, then Kenya will be in a great position
to have great leaders who will serve them equally, efficiently and development conscious

5. 2. Analyze the differences between managers and leaders using organizations of your own
choice (10 Marks)
Management versus leadership explores the differences between the two styles of overseeing
people and positions. Explore the contentions and be further enlightened on what defines
leadership.
Leadership is about saying… “How can I interact with people to improve their performance,
give them just enough stretch to keep them motivated and help them realize their potential?”
John Maxwell once said that leadership was simply influence, nothing more and nothing less.
This is probably the most accepted definition of leadership as its broad but also when everything
is pulled back leaders are those who can influence others. However as leaders we must be aware
of this definition and further application to what influence does as it’s an active element to be
explored.
Leaders have some special characteristics which separate them from the crowd. They possess
something which captivates people around them and allows for such a great influence that
thousands, if not millions of people around the world. Just as managers have subordinates and
leaders have followers, managers create circles of power while leaders create circles of
influence. A leader is someone who people naturally follow through their own choice, whereas a
manager must be obeyed. A manager may only have obtained his position of authority through
time and loyalty given to the company, not as a result of his leadership qualities.
Great leaders usually have some of the following characteristics...
• They will/have left a legacy beyond themselves and their lives.
• Their words are remembered, quoted and still continue to be relevant and cutting edge for
generations.
• They are spoken of and talked about with admiration, sometimes jealousy and their fame
which travels greatly.

6. Of course these characteristics could be said of many people who have influenced others and
have left some sort of legacy.
# Mahatma .K. Gandhi
He inspired millions of people to fight for their rights, and he walked shoulder to shoulder with
them so India could achieve independence in 1947. His vision became everyone's dream and
ensured that the country's push for independence was unstoppable. The world needs leaders like
him who can think beyond problems, have a vision, and inspire people to convert challenges into
opportunities, a step at a time.
Maxwell leadership books then you’ve gotten a taste of some of his story and life, but what can
we learn as leaders from his legacy?
• He's on the level of leadership where he teaches others who I’d say are great leaders.
Therefore, the principles he teaches are accepted across the board and the leadership
revelations will carry on through others leadership.
• He's written many well read books which will continue on his legacy and ideas in the
years to come. Due to the prolific nature of his work and books the investment he's made
in the leadership world will bring great momentum to his legacy.
• He is absolutely passionate about people leading well and that's what fuels his life and
career to build better leadership resources. If you're a leader then whatever you're doing
with your leadership skills should be fueled by your own passion to succeed and do better
than anyone else.
# Martin Luther King Jr
We acknowledge a man who had brilliant leadership characteristics for his mission. Learning
Martin Luther King Jr. was a complex man who had a multifaceted career as one of the leaders
of the American Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born on January 15th,
1929 and died on April 4th, 1968. He is remembered particularly for his amazing powers or
oration and for cultivating non-violent civil disobedience.

7. Anger: - King harnessed the anger within him to utilize as energy, drive and ambition to change
what needed to be changed. In his books he recalled how he felt anger on several occasions. He
recalled how as a teenager he had been travelling with a teacher on a bus and having paid for a
ticket was required to stand up and give his seat to some white men who boarded his bus. He had
to stand for the duration of the 90 minute journey. That anger would spur him to success during
the Montgomery Bus Boycott, over a decade later.
In 1956 his home was bombed by white supremacists while his wife and child were asleep. He
recalled the anger that he felt at that moment and he vowed to channel it to a higher purpose.
He led by Example: - King was driven by his personal values. Because he was inspirational to
others, and some would call him charismatic, he was able to inspire others and to encourage
them to take risks, just as he did. King was arrested 29 times during his life including during the
Birmingham Campaign in Alabama. In April 1963 he led civil disobedience in Birmingham
against racial segregation. He encouraged the black community to occupy public spaces
normally barred to them; to hold sit-ins; and to violate any laws they considered unjust. Initially
the campaign did not seem to make much of a ripple within wider society, so King encouraged
women and children to join the peaceful demonstration which ensured more publicity and media
coverage. The public authorities reacted with aggression, using water cannon on children for
example, causing a public outcry. The campaign was a success.
Compassion: - Along with his views on non-violence, King was a caring and compassionate
man. Several times he came up against aggression and his attitude was always the same. He
would refuse to press charges and instead insist that it was the system that needed to be changed
and not the individuals within it.
He challenged the System: - From a very early age King challenged society and prevailing views
about colour. He challenged attitudes to racism and racist activities. He completely refused to
settle for second best and he never negotiated or compromised, no matter how hard he found
campaigning at times. His only desire was for full civil rights for all.

8. Top Down Leadership:- His top down and hierarchical leadership style tended to put him at odds
with other civil right groups who would have preferred a more open and democratic style of
leadership. However, King never underestimated or patronized his followers. In spite of his great
intellect, he managed to appeal to even the most uneducated of his followers.
He was also a great diplomat. He would listen carefully while others argued and feuded all
around him and then he would summarize and suggest new ways forwards.
Oration: - The powers of Martin Luther King Jr. are most evident in the speeches that he gave.
His ‘I have a Dream’ speech for example was delivered to a crowd of approximately 250,000
demonstrators on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.
The ‘I have a dream’ speech is particularly memorable in its imagery, and simplicity of
language. King delivered the speech clearly and with great passion. It was a speech that was at
once persuasive and inspiring but also allowed for reflection. The repetition and the pauses
allowed listeners to envisage and experience King’s vision in a very immediate way. It remains a
powerful and emotive speech.
# Bill Gates
He has demonstrated over nearly thirty years the importance of clarity of thought and execution.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, he did not move away from the domain he understood better
than anything else - software. He has pursued the objective of dominance in software in general
and operating systems in particular that has few parallels. Venturing into unfamiliar territory may
be fashionable but carries a high degree of risk. If ever a need arises for an absolute example for
what Peters and Waterman called "Stick to the Knitting" and Hamel and Prahalad termed core
competence, one needs to look no further than Bill Gates and Microsoft. Focus also means the
ability to pursue one's goals whatever the obstacles may be. Such a degree of perseverance is
hard to come by.
• Thinking big: Along with focus, the ability to dream big and pursue that with single-minded
determination sets Gates apart from other entrepreneurs. This is particularly true of entrepreneurs
from emerging economies like India where an ultra-conservative attitude has stifled growth.

9. Entrepreneurs need to develop confidence in themselves and their team that they can take on the
world and come out winners.
• Passion: Simply put, if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well. From a simple thank
you note to a complex proposal, it is critical to place the stamp of excellence on whatever one
undertakes. Equally important is the need to constantly innovate. Change is the only constant and
the more agile and adaptive we are to change, the more successful we can be.
• Learning as a life-long process: Though dropping out of college to his dreams, Bill Gates has
probably read and written more than most of us ever will. In the process, he has shown the limits
of formal education. Important as formal education is, perhaps it is more important to realize that
learning is a life-long process. Knowledge is infinite. Even if we keep assimilating it without a
break throughout a lifetime, we would not have scratched the surface. Knowledge should lead to
humility and wisdom - not arrogance and one-upmanship.
• Giving back to society: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has provided a new dimension
to philanthropy by addressing issues that are global in nature - malaria, cancer, AIDS. Feeling
good by doing good may appear old-fashioned but this may yet be the best way forward in
combating diseases that kill or maim millions of people every year. With friend and legendary
investor Warren Buffet also joining hands, a formidable combination has been forged. Bill Gates
has shown a remarkable degree of consistency both in his business goals and in his goals in
philanthropy - he is a global citizen.
Although some Indian entrepreneurs have indeed espoused similar causes - Infosys Foundation,
Azim Premji Foundation, and the House of Tata come to mind, a lot more can be done by
successful Indian entrepreneurs. In fact, just 5% of the wealth of the 200 richest people can
eradicate some of the most pressing problems that we face. Wealth should not be merely in terms
of building the most flamboyant homes but in pursuing a higher calling. Where is the collective
conscience of the rich who have made it big due to the society that they are a part of?
As with any successful or great person, there will always be controversies. In an age where the
distinction between means and ends is increasingly blurred, taking extreme positions hardly
helps. One may not agree with Gates' means for achieving what he has, but one would find it

10. difficult to ignore his contributions to the IT industry. However, history and posterity will
probably recognize him more for what he has decided to do - at a relatively young age - for the
rest of his life. Combating hunger, fighting disease and educating the poor are truly lofty goals
worth emulating by anyone who cares for humanity and for the quality of life on this planet. On
this count, there cannot be many role models better than Bill Gates. The last thirty years have
seen the emergence of an entrepreneur par excellence. The next thirty years will probably see the
emergence of the greatest individual philanthropist - not necessarily in monetary terms - but in
terms of the global issues addressed with dedication.
References
Daniel. F. Predpall, ‘Developing Quality Improvement Processes In Consulting Engineering
Firms’, Journal of Management in Engineering, pp 30-31, May-June 1994
Richard Pascale, ‘Managing on the Edge’, Penguin Book, pp 65, 1990
John Fenton, ‘101 Ways to Boost Your Business Performance’, Mandarin Business, pp. 113,
1990
John Fenton, ‘101 Ways to Boost Your Business Performance’, Mandarin Business, pp. 114,
1990
http://www.leadershiplime.com/famous-leaders.html#sthash.bVXZdhZS.dpuf
3. Discuss succession planning as a type of leadership development (10 mks)
Best practice organizations effectively integrate leadership development and succession planning
systems by fully utilizing managerial personnel in developing the organization's mentor network,
identifying and codifying high potential employees, developing high potentials via project-based
learning experiences and manager-facilitated workshops, establishing a flexible and fluid
succession planning process, creating organization-wide forums for exposing high potential
employees to multiple stakeholders, and establishing a supportive organizational culture.
Whether one is a senior manager looking to support his top performers, or a middle manager
looking for the next step up, he should keep an eye on what’s going on in the company beyond
his/her immediate job responsibilities and work towards planning successfully for the future. But

11. you still have to motivate employees. Taking an active interest in the development of top talent is
a no-cost way to keep staff engaged and happy to go above and beyond in their current role,
because they see that as the quickest way to advance to their next step with the company.” A
comprehensive succession plan should be created for both the larger organization and for each
division within that organization; this will ensure alignment of leadership throughout the
organization. The development of a sound leadership development and succession planning
process is a utility or public works organization’s straightest path across the “bridge to the
future” and, in fact, taking this approach is quite possibly an organization’s management’s best
tool in ensuring long-term measurable success for the organization, its customers, and its
employees.
With careful planning and preparation, organizations can manage the changes that result from a
generational transfer of leadership as well as the on-going changes that occur regularly when key
employees leave an organization.
Although the type and extent of planning will be different, organizations both large and small
need to have some sort of succession plan. Effective succession planning supports organizational
stability and sustainability by ensuring there is an established process to meet staffing
requirements. Boards and executive directors can demonstrate leadership by having the strategies
and processes in place to ensure that these transitions occur smoothly, with little disruption to the
organization. A basic process for developing a succession planning program includes these steps:
1) Determine future human capital needs and challenges based on the organization’s strategy.
2) Find out what is known and not known about the workforce.
3) Create a plan to fill in information gaps.
4) Develop a business case for why the program is important to the organization’s future and the
resources that will be needed.
5) Obtain leadership buy-in and needed resources.
6) Define the process by which participants will be selected.
7) Define the training and development experiences that participants will have access to.

12. 8) Communicate the program effectively.
9) Execute the plan.
10) Measure results and adjust the program as required.
The importance of legal review at each step cannot be overemphasized. In addition, outside
expertise should be brought in whenever internal staffs are outside their comfort zone. This can
help ensure that the succession planning program meets an organization’s needs and takes
advantage of other employers’ best practices. Regardless, it is critical that the organization own
the program and manage the implementation to ensure long-term success.
Several common errors can derail the program.
Mistakes to avoid include:
i) Making it an HR process. If it is perceived as an HR-only process and management does
not buy in and participate, the program will fail.
ii) “Heir-apparent” syndrome. Falling into the replacement-planning mode and appointing
de facto successors for positions that may become open will undermine the credibility of
the program and may cause legal problems.
iii) Focusing too much on program participants. While it is important to ensure that the
program has the appropriate resources and focus, a manager should not forget about the
rest of the organization that also needs development.
iv) Early or high-profile failures. If a program participant is involved in a high-profile failure
or if the program rapidly receives negative feedback, it won’t last long.
v) Lack of honest feedback. For the developmental aspects of the program to be effective,
participants must get honest feedback about their areas for development.
vi) Poor management preparedness. Management must understand and support the program,
and give participants the time they need to take part in it.

13. 4. Using five examples of leaders in the world, evaluate this statement," The concept of
serving is fundamental to the leadership role. Good leadership involves serving the
organization or group and the people within it."(10 mks)
i) In India, Mahatma K. Gandhi inspired millions of people to fight for their rights, and he
walked shoulder to shoulder with them so India could achieve independence in 1947. The
liberation of the sub-continent from the yokes of colonialism was through peaceful
resistance. His vision became everyone's dream and ensured that the country's push for
independence was unstoppable. India today is a great power and is exercising the full
benefits of its independence. It is rapidly accelerating its social, political and economic
development. The world needs leaders like him who can think beyond problems, have a
vision, and inspire people to convert challenges into opportunities, a step at a time. This
was a great leader who was admired by many.
ii) Nelson Mandela in Africa comes to mind as a towering figure in this regard. Rather than
seeking benefits and compromising with the Apartheid regime, Mandela paid a heavy
price to bring down the evils of a regime that tried to institutionalize the separate
development of the people of one nation. Today, despite its many challenges, South
Africa is re-emerging as a leading economic superpower in Africa.
iii) Dr. Martin Luther King is recognized as one of the greatest leaders the country produced.
He contributed enormously to the progress of civil liberty and the dismantling of racism
in the country. Through a coordinated and well-directed peaceful movement, he brought
about an end to institutionalized racism. He levelled the playing field for blacks and other
minorities. The American Civil War provided a platform for Abraham Lincoln to
demonstrate servant leadership. Two of the most lasting results of Lincoln’s servant
leadership are the preservation of the Union and the freeing of the slaves. Lincoln’s
commitment to serve the greater good for the most people both revolutionized and
forever changed a nation for the generations that have followed. Lincoln’s careful and
prudent leadership throughout his presidency produced a radical and transformational
change in America. Abraham Lincoln seized the opportunity before him to confirm
America’s position in the world as the premier example of a working
democracy. Additionally, he extended the opportunity for liberty to all Americans.

14. iv) Lincoln’s aspiration to become President stemmed from his desire to serve his
country. This suggests that Lincoln did not seek the position of executive leader solely
for the sake of power that such an opportunity would create for him. He understood that
the Presidency was the ultimate position to serve his fellow Americans and move the
country toward a “more perfect Union.” The position of executive leader would provide
him with the platform necessary to fulfil this vision for the people and the nation. He
recognized that he would have to exercise a position of power in order to accomplish this
goal. While this position of power was the catalyst for realizing his purpose for America,
it held an aspect of responsibility to the American people as well as to the office itself.
Lincoln recognized that the fundamental American values of liberty, life and the pursuit
of happiness were possessed by all Americans. However, the culture of 19th
century
America suggested that only a selected portion of the population was entitled to the
opportunity to pursue these liberties. Lincoln set out to challenge the unwritten cultural
beliefs held for several generations in America. This leadership task involves uncovering
the precepts and held beliefs that contradict the true values of humanity and, in America’s
case, the additional belief that the sovereignty of a state superseded the establishment of
an entire nation. During America’s constitutional and social crisis, Lincoln set out to
awaken the consciousness of America. Post-Civil War America has remembered
Lincoln’s words of nationalism, liberty and freedom. Furthermore, it gave this country
the fortitude to move in the direction that began with the sixteenth president. The 13th
,
14th,
and 15th
Amendments to the Constitution set in motion the evidence of lasting
leadership. These permanent changes to America’s Constitution, the rulebook by which
the people’s rights were guaranteed, showed the direction in which Abraham Lincoln was
leading the country. These changes were evident in the laws that Congress passed.
Change had taken place. The ability to continue to pursue a “more perfect Union” in the
wake of Lincoln’s exit from the executive office is proof of his servant
leadership. Because of Lincoln’s commitment to service and sustainable revolutionary
change, Americans continue to provide the example of a working democracy. America’s
example to humanity of liberty and prosperity to those who wish to attain it is again
evidence of Lincoln’s servant leadership. America’s paradigm shifted under the
leadership of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s interpretation gave a new voice to the ideals

15. expressed by the Founding Fathers. The lens he used to interpret the Constitution and
Declaration of Independence gave America a greater sense of itself and freedom to a
people now and for generations to come. Moreover, two separate Americas are
evident. There is the America that existed before the executive leadership of Lincoln;
one in which the words of the Founding Fathers were interpreted for the inclusion of
some and to the exclusion of four million others. The resulting America that emerged as
Lincoln led it through the crucible of the Civil War was one that was inclusive to all who
desired the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This America is
evidence of Abraham Lincoln as the embodiment of servant leadership.
v) Mother Teresa of Calcutta embodies what it means to be a servant leader. Her life is a
testimony of faith and her actions showed Christ’s love to those who needed it most. A
hero is someone who does not seek fame or fortune, but rather lives a life of integrity and
impacts people along the way. Mother Teresa is the epitome of generosity and
selflessness, encouraging me to look more closely at the needs of those around me and to
reach out to them in love. She once said,” I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God
who is sending a love letter to the world”.
References
1. http://www.4cleanair.org/chicago/EffectiveSuccessionPlanningforPublic.pdf
2. http://www.theglasshammer.com/news/2010/04/27/developing-future-leaders/
3. Effective Succession Planning in the Public Sector - Brian Wilkerson
4. Integrating leadership development and succession planning best practices - Kevin S.
Groves