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LEADERSHIP

How Do You Demonstrate Leadership?

”If there is a trait which does characterize leaders it is opportunism. Succesful people are very often those who steadfastly refuse to be daunted by disadvantage and have the ability to turn disadvantage to good effect. They are people who seize opportunity and take risks. Leadership then seems to be a matter of personality and character.”

- John Viney





Fundamental principles underlie the thinking and conduct of all true leaders, and these principles are even sharply defined for leaders within the kingdom of God. From time to time those whom the Lord has chosen for leadership need to examine themselves in the mirror of thought- provoking maxims. These proverbs are designed to help Christian leaders move forward in administrative excellence.



Responsible leaders do not make irresponsible statements.

A godly leader speaks out of the presence of God.

A humble leader never makes light of eternal truths, but esteems them with reverence.

A wise leader resolves conflicts peacefully, not forcefully.

An enduring leader withstands insult without anger.

A wholesome leader is characterized by tolerance, which saves him from hasty decisions in crisis, and retaliations in the face of contrariness.

The good leader attempts to make friends, not enemies.

Dealing harshly with opponents causes more aggravation and hostility. A polite leader uses gentleness and kindness.

A leader who listens well to his subordinates manages them well.

The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before man.

A devoted leader gives himself totally to the ones he is leading, helping them to develop their undiscovered potential.

A patient leader remembers that people’s responses vary according to their nature, temperament, and level of development. Undiscovered potential.

A mature leader shows highest respect for others, irrespective of race or rank. Undiscovered potential.

A wise leader guards himself against the pitfalls of success, self-assertiveness and over- confidence. Undiscovered potential.

Broken promises quickly destroy confidence in leadership. undiscovered potential.

A wise leader inspires and motivates rather than intimidating and manipulating. Undiscovered potential.

A weak leader retreats in the face of rising difficulties and loses the respect of his followers. Undiscovered potential.

Severe trials open the door to new revelation. undiscovered potential.

The path of leadership is always lonely.

The greater the leader the greater his fall when he succumbs to temptations. Undiscovered potential.

A teachable leader eagerly probes for truth learned by others regardless of their status. undiscovered potential.

A relaxed leader relaxes his followers. undiscovered potential.

The self-righteous leader lives in a cell made of blocks of deception, hypocrisy, and lies. undiscovered potential.

A stubborn leader is a menace who cannot be trusted by his colleagues.


PAUL...............

BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America reports $1bn loss

Bank of America has reported a $1bn (£612m) net loss for the three months from July to September, which was worse than had been expected.

The figure compares with a net profit of $3.2bn in the previous quarter and $1.2bn in the same period of last year.

But the bank's boss Kenneth Lewis said he was "heartened by early positive signs", referring to the levelling-off of bad debts from its credit cards.

Bank of America is the fourth major US bank to report third-quarter results.

The news sent European shares negative and was expected to lead to a lower opening on Wall Street.
Credit costs

On Thursday, Goldman Sachs announced profits for the period of $3.19bn, a four-fold increase from the same period in 2008, while Citigroup reported profits of $101m.

I don't think it looks as bad as the market is painting it out to be

Weston Boone, Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets

Earlier in the week, JP Morgan revealed net profits of $3.6bn.

It was announced on Wednesday that Mr Lewis, who is retiring as chief executive at the end of the year, would not receive any pay or bonus for 2009.

He said in the results statement that the figures had been hit by a number of "non-core items" and that "excluding those items, our revenue continued to hold up well".

The report said that although the rate of debts going bad was slowing, "credit costs remained high as most economies around the world remained weak".

Bank of America set aside $11.7bn to cover credit losses, which was down from $13.4bn in the previous quarter but up from $6.5bn in the same period last year.

Mortgage losses

The credit card business by itself reported a net loss of $1bn.

The net loss on mortgages and insurance widened to $1.6bn from $54m in the same period last year.

But there was a stronger performance from its global markets division, which was inflated by the acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Net income from global markets came in at $2.2bn, compared with a loss of $588m in the same period last year.

"I don't think it looks as bad as the market is painting it out to be," said Weston Boone at Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets in Baltimore.

"Their provisioning is down $1.7bn, and they're making comments about levelling in card delinquencies."

NIGERIA JOINS THE CLIQUE OF THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS ON EARTH

Nigeria, Bosnia, Brazil, Gabon and Lebanon yesterday easily won seats on the Security Council of the United Nations most powerful body to serve two-year terms.

Unlike most previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won easy election on the first ballot in voting by the 192-member General Assembly.

Assembly President Ali Treki announced the results — 186 votes for Nigeria, 184 for Gabon, 183 for Bosnia, 182 for Brazil and 180 for Lebanon — and declared the five countries elected to terms beginning January 1, 2010 as diplomats burst into applause.

“We have two large countries in Brazil and Nigeria who carry the weight of being a regional power. We have two countries in Lebanon and Bosnia that have been through conflict and can bring their own national experiences to the Security Council,” Britain’s U.N. Ambassador John Sawers said.

Information and Communications minister Dora Akunyili said the election of Nigeria into the council is an endorsement of President Yar’adua’s leadership qualities.

Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Jibril Aminu said the election proves that Nigeria is not a pariah state and is respected on the international scene.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Professor Ibrahim Gambari said it is an opportunity for Nigeria to prove to the world in the next two years that it is a respectable member of the comity of nations.

Ten of the council’s 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year stretches, and five non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year. To win, candidates must get a two-thirds majority of the assembly members voting by secret ballot.

The five other Security Council seats are occupied by its veto-wielding permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The five countries newly elected council members will replace Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Libya and Vietnam. The five countries elected last year — Austria, Mexico, Japan, Turkey and Uganda — will remain on the council until January 1.