Leadership is a human art driven by inner values to influence the accomplishment of an action using the capacity available from one’s skills and training. Stephen Lewis has exhibited actions of a leader from the details of his work in Africa.
His experience appreciates remarkable leaders who had the guts to stand out and act in the correct way irrespective of the whole community perspective of the issue. It is their stubborn insistence on good governance that is impartial and representative that has earned world renowned leaders like Lewis international acclaim and fame. This paper discusses this and other leaders and the various aspects of their leaderships that have separated them in history as eccentric and leaders of repute.
Stephen Lewis is a leader. His works are coroneted because of his tenure in the various international organizations and they further stretch even after he leaves the positions he still pursues his humanitarian activism. His previous big international positions notwithstanding, he reaches out to the HIV/AIDS patients in the developing countries and initiates activities through his foundation to help the victims.
Former US president is also a leader. He exercised leadership when he stood out as a president; when pharmaceuticals were unwilling to reduce their drug prices to India, he showed great leadership when he negotiated for the same quality content drugs at cheaper prices to be availed and traded between the countries. It was such a remarkable action that its impact has been felt today: some drug for HIV/AIDS go close to free.
Another remarkable leader is Sophie Klocby who leads a group of HIV/AIDS women. She takes the initiative, and defies all odds such as even though she struggled with HIV, she continued to lead a demonstration against their King of Makmoha who was acting against the requirements of his people.
Doctor Danie Makweg is also a confident and compassionate leader. He offers to treat the women reproductive tract in his country Congo, and specializes in those cases where the women have been brutally injured. Most of these women are the ones that have been raped shot or mutilated and he has the determination to attempt to restore their dignity, respect and health.
These are remarkable leaders who have exhibited confidence to pursue what they want even beyond their capacity. They have a drive that propels them in what they do and nobody can dare stop; justifiably earning themselves such descriptive names as ‘dare devil’ leaders who will not be cowed by anything. They have a winning spirit in spite of how low or insignificant one may see them. They are those people who are immune to discrimination and exceed people’s expectations.
They deserve to be called leaders because of their friendliness and a desire to do well. However, trying to deter them from their pursuit and perspective does not mean they will never resist, they will ever resist. For example President Bill Clinton is a celebrated leader in the United States, but once he saw his nation suffering in sickness because they were unable to afford the drugs, he went ahead and negotiated for quality ones at cheaper prices.
These leaders are compassionate and selflessness. They are driven not by their own desires but of the community as a whole. They are all inclined to humanitarian activism and therefore they have high integrity and self-respect. They are open to ideas from any level and their value of life is beyond race, gender or status but equality for human life.
All of these leaders exhibit common leadership qualities and perspectives. They all have a vision, which results into a mission that they pursue with dedication. Their vision keeps them alive in the hope of inspiring their subjects into greater achievement and self realization of their potentials. In addition to caring for the less fortunate and disadvantaged in the society, these leaders all portray a sense of magnanimity and have a sense of humor as captured in Steve Lewis’ intriguing speech.