LEADERSHIP NUGGETS BY DR. PIPIM
Quotes on Leadership
By
© Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD

TRAINING NEW LEADERS
"Don't give the church to young people; give it rather to converted young people."

“If you don’t allow them to fail, you are failing them.”

"Don't lower standards for young people; challenge them to rise to the standards."

"Beware of the complacency of success. It is the first step towards mediocrity."

"A goal without a deadline is a dream."


LEADERS & PUPPETS
“Leaders think and act. Puppets blindly follow policies and polls.”

"Don't be flattered by your elected position. It is your character and accomplishments that count."

“Learn to think for yourself, otherwise somebody will do the thinking for you."

"The puppet says: 'There goes my people; I must follow them, because I am their leader'."

"Puppets know how. Leaders know why."


        LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE
“Lead by actions, not by directions.”

"To change the world, you must first be changed."


        THE POWER OF THE PEN
“The pen of truth is the most effective weapon against the arrogance of power.”

“Those who read are those who lead. But those who write challenge the leaders to do right.”


        BE CAREFUL WITH POWER
“Power is like an egg. If you don’t handle it carefully it falls from your hands, but if you hold on too tightly to it, it breaks in your hands.”
(--An Adaptation of a Ghanaian Proverb)


INSECURE LEADERS
“Show me the leader who keeps reminding others about ‘who is in charge’ and I will show you a desperate and insecure leader.”

"The 4-Cs of insecure leaders: They will attempt to crush any movement if they cannot control, command, or take credit for its successes."


AFRICAN LEADERSHIP
"There's nothing wrong with the African mind. Our problem is the African mindset."

“Petty jealousies, short-sightedness, and selfishness have produced many of our leading 'African PhDs'--i.e., Africans with 'Pull Him Down (or Pull Her Down) Syndrome.”

"African black beans are puppet leaders--they are black on the outside, but have the mindset of the white colonial slave masters."

"Don't be fooled by the appeal of tribalism. Tribalism is the most comfortable shelter under which our African leaders hide their own incompetence and selfishness."


COURAGE OF CONVICTIONS
“If you can’t speak your mind it's because you have no mind of your own, or you mind what others say.”

"There are too many Obadiahs in the church. We need more Elijahs."

"Politicians ask, 'What is popular?'
Diplomats ask, 'What is safe?"
But leaders ask, 'What is right?'"

"Those who can't take a stand cannot be trusted."

"The one with the ball is the one who is attacked."
(--Adaptation from soccer analogy)

“The silent majority are not silent. Their voices of apathy are louder than the courage of their convictions.”


DISCOURAGEMENT
"Discouragement is my encouragement."

"The best compliment is to be criticized and attacked."

"Don't take yourself too seriously; take the Lord seriously."

"It is fruitful trees that have stones hurled at them."


LOVE & LEADERSHIP
Where There’s Love . . .
There’s an elegance of simplicity
An affluence of frugality
And a display of humility

Where There’s Love . . .
Compassion is its fight
Gentleness is its might
And forgiveness is its right


EXCELLENCE & LEADERSHIP
"Make no apologies for excellence."

"There's a misguided notion in the church that says, 'If your're brilliant you cannot be godly, and if you're spiritual you must be a dummy.' I say 'No!' Be brilliant and godly."

" 'Excellence' and 'Higher than the Highest' are descriptions of the God we serve. Therefore excellence should be the hallmark of any Christian."

"You are an eagle, not a turkey."

"Don't lose your gold of excellence;
Don't substitute the gold for brass;
And never be content with anything less than the real gold."

"Excellence is a Christian obligation. To settle for anything less is, therefore, a denial of faith."

"The dumbest decision smart people can make is to leave God out of their lives."

"Don't settle for mediocrity."

"Excellence is a journey, never a destination"

"The complacency of success is the first step to mediocrity."