Whether you are a parent or child, student, or worker in business, non-profit, or government. Whether you’re a teacher or preacher.

Everyone of us is playing some leadership role in the places we occupy.

Our families, communities, and world thrive when leaders succeed. But when leaders fail to fulfill their mandate, pain, suffering, and loss is certain for everyone involved.

If you look closely at the major problems facing society today, like

  • Injustice
  • Poverty
  • Economic inequality
  • Inadequate access to housing, education, and healthcare
  • Disinformation and misinformation
  • Mental health crises
  • Climate change
  • Conflict and wars …

you will find that shortcomings in leadership lie at the root.

Our world needs a paradigm shift in leadership.

A shift away from the mindsets and practices that have brought us to this point, toward a new leadership approach governed by one simple conviction: to do the right thing all the time—when no one is watching, and even when it is hard or unpopular.

This paradigm shift will begin, not in some grand forum, or boardroom, or in a meeting of the president’s cabinet. Rather, it will begin in the deepest recesses of the minds of leaders all over the world.

The transformation our world needs will begin in the leader’s journal. Because if leaders can get their words right, they can set the world right.

Words are the fuel that power the engine of leadership. 

James Ladi Williams

They are the most important asset in a leader’s toolbox. What leaders say, or don’t say, determines whether societies will thrive or despair.

A leader’s words can build up or tear down. They can give life or take life. They can unite or divide. 

The whole universe was created by the spoken word of God and across cultures, traditions affirm the power of words to shape reality. When leaders speak words of affirmation to the people they lead, they become fired up to make a difference in their jobs and communities. 

It is written: people are ruined because they do not know what is right or true. Yet leaders can educate people with their words. Where there is no vision, people are hopeless and in despair. Yet, leaders can cut through the despair and inspire hope by using their words to cast a bold vision. 

The success of a leader is measured by the impact of his or her words on people and society. The words of a good leader creates good in the world, while the words of a bad leader creates harm in people’s lives and in communities. And when an ineffective leader speaks, nothing happens.  

To change the world, we must first change ourselves. To change ourselves, we must first change our words.

James Ladi williams

There is no better place for leaders to get their words right, to perfect their language, than a Journal. 

A journal is a reliable companion on the journey of leadership. In it, leaders can grapple with big questions, like what their purpose is and what it would take to achieve the vision at the center of their leadership mandate. 

When a leader is faced with a decision, a journal can serve as both a map and a sounding board for the different paths the leader could take. 

When leaders do not speak or behave like the leader they wish to be, the practice of journaling creates timely opportunities for them to recognize their errors and do better next time.  

A leader that journals is a more attentive leader. And an attentive leader is more likely to lead with love, humility, patience, empathy, and discipline. Leaders who journal are more likely to think the right thoughts, speak the right words, and—most importantly—do the right thing, consistently.

Above all, a leader who journals is more likely to find the truth about himself or herself, and about our world. And to find the truth is to discern God’s plan and a higher purpose for the leadership assignment, putting the leader on the path to delivering impact that will endure. 

Many leaders who have left an indelible mark on the world kept journals, including Nelson Mandela, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, Gandhi, Chinua Achebe, Herbert Macaulay, and Frida Kahlo. Even today, leaders like Malala Yousafzai who journal continue to inspire through their words and actions.

We should learn from their examples. 

In a world where a consensus has emerged that data is king, leaders, now more than ever, need to be reminded not to forfeit the power of words to transform lives and societies.

If Martin Luther King had said, “I have a dataset!” perhaps no one would remember him today. Instead, he said, “I have a dream!”. This single declaration, combined with the weight of his character, sparked a movement, transformed a nation, and cemented his place in history.

James Ladi Williams

At Akadá, we believe that leaders are their words and their actions. I am James Ladi Williams, and I invite you to join Akada on Leadership.