Say something; do something.

Silence, they say, is golden but silence could sometimes breed indifference and characterize our existence with no relevance.

Indeed, there are times to keep quiet and understand the interconnections between issues before lending our voice or taking any action. However, there are also times when keeping quiet becomes a crime of unpardonable magnitude.

To many, the fear of being misunderstood or criticized often perpetuates silence; the concern with being labeled or rejected often causes folly to take center-stage while wisdom goes into hiding.

Perfection would cripple taking initiatives; the dread of making mistakes will birth sons and daughters of Inertia. Imperfection, failure, and fear, however, are building blocks of success.

What we don’t say will not be said; what we don’t do, will not be done.

Life is like a vapor; it might have dispersed by the time we are ready to talk or act. The days of every human are similar to a patch of cloud in the sky, they might have moved on by the time we find it comfortable to use our voice and might.

On matters of fulfilling our purpose, silence is not an option. When it comes to voicing out where our voice is needed, inaction becomes an offense. Remember the Good Book also says that if anyone knows how to do good and fails to act, then to him or her, it is wrongdoing.

The clock is ticking fast, our purpose has waited too long at our doors.

Today is the day to embrace the reason for our existence - to say something and be known for something, to do something, and to be remembered for something. It may just be too late if we push it till tomorrow.

Oh! It's June 19th

If history matters, then today matters in history.

Call it Freedom Day, Emancipation Day or Liberation Day, you are still referring to a day, one hundred and fifty-five (155) years ago, when chains were broken off the hands, necks, and legs of men and women of color in the United States.

Following up on President Lincoln’s Proclamation two and a half years earlier, slavery was officially ended on this day, and African-American men and women forced into servitude in the United States were free to go.

Indeed, the horror and pain of the dastardly period of slavery in history still linger today and systemic exclusion and suppression of men and women of color still exist, we, however, rejoice that the chains and shackles that once defined our identities are gone.

And although rough and tough, the path to reclaiming the dignity and opportunity that life should have brought is still on for all blacks and all humans deprived everywhere.

On a day like this, we are reminded that evil exists but will not last forever. Perpetrators of evil acts will be brought to justice someday and posterity may not forgive evildoers.

At a time like this, we are consoled that those bounded against their wish will be free, hope will be restored, life will be dignified and God will be glorified.

It’s June 19th, it’s another day in history.

The Other Side of COVID-19

In starting out, let’s get it straight – NOTHING happens without God’s knowledge. The Almighty God can speak through ‘anything’ He desires to use.

Recognizing the sensitivity of the moments that we are in, I make bold that COVID-19 is a messenger, and God is talking through this scourge.

The ‘lockdowns’, ‘isolations’, and ‘quarantines’ in our nations, and communities are creating unique opportunities for self-reflection. The economic, political, and religious slowdowns are bringing many to their senses, which might have been dormant for a while.

Many are now confronted with the futility of life and are coming to terms with the danger of locking God out of their existence. They are now making their ways right with their creator in genuine salvation.

The shrines (traditional and religious) and their ‘operators’ are seeing less or no traffic. Consultations over the phone or online are practically impossible – unfortunately, most of them run a face-to-face model of operation. Hunger is biting the grandmasters, and the charlatan preachers hard. They will need the Almighty God to survive and not their idols and voiceless gods.

The streetwalkers are in hiding, the raiders, under lock and key. Fewer or no gunshots are heard in our communities, more runaway kids are now forced to attend, ‘life tutorial sessions’ at home with their parents and guardians.

A lot of prodigal sons and daughters are now coming back to their knees in prayer. Many self-anointed ‘representatives’ of God, are now being exposed - their scam ministries anchored on magic and sweet words are crumbling like a pack of cards in their faces.

Several demons are out of work; hell is seeing less patronage. Those who are leaving mother earth now are having their opportunities to pray and confess their sins before departing. Many, are now calling on God for their safety. Satan – the father of wickedness, is certainly not happy.

The name of God, like a seismic wave, is taking over our health care facilities, government houses, medical laboratories, and parliaments. Revival is enveloping our air and internet-waves.

The level of human kindness and collective rallying that we are experiencing is unprecedented.

God is talking and a million conspiracy theories will not diffuse His message.

Post-COVID-19, some will come out strong and sadly, others will not come out at all. Some ventures will disappear and others will emerge.

In closing, May God blesses and protects every front-line worker, leader, and all individual managing COVID-19 globally. May He (God) also console and strengthen every family where there has been any human or material loss due to this pandemic.

Manager and Leaders Should Unite Their Teams

There are a number of management or leadership styles and each or a combination of two or more styles can be applied to address specific situations as required. Democratic, transformational, laissez-faire, etc. are some examples of management and leadership styles. No matter the style(s) that is applied, leaders and managers must demonstrate fairness and integrity and ensure they do not create cracks in the walls of their team or group.

If managers or leaders run a system that supports segregation, favoritism or unhealthy competition, disunity will be the outcome. Any authority figure that acts on hearsay, prejudice or frequent compromise will hamper the spirit of togetherness.

All humans are not created with the same abilities. Some individuals will excel faster than others. Some would have to think long before coming to a decision. A good management or leadership style is to identify this uniqueness of human nature and leverage it to achieve the objectives that are set for the moment.

It is important to note that people observe what managers or leaders do and can see and feel their sense of judgment and decision as authority figures.

Managers and leaders should welcome the opinions of their followers and should avoid sliding into autocracy in presenting their ideas. This approach can steer up the spirit of infighting and disunity among team members.

Communication is a key skill every manager or leader needs. When ideas are properly communicated and there is room for seeking clarity and being heard, the tendency for such ideas to be embraced is high. With embracing a manager or leader's idea, the followers or team members would typically unite to ensure that the idea is actualized.

Managers and leaders are key to building a strong team and fostering unity within their team will be an important task they need to achieve.

There may not be time for waiting

All leaders should able to clearly articulate their vision and direction and seek buy-in and ownership of such vision from their followers. However, in fulfilling some time-sensitive and life-determining responsibilities, there may not enough time for leaders to bring each of their followers on board.

This is because there are instances where some followers may constitute a system of delay or rebellion towards their leaders’ vision, no matter how clearly such vision has been articulated or communicated.

True leaders cannot necessarily delay their moving forward if some individuals are bent on not submitting to such leaders’ direction.

For example, in the Bible, the city of Sodom was to be destroyed and speed would be required for safety. No one would have to look back if they needed to be safe. The instruction and direction were very clear. There was no opportunity to start discussing the divine instruction that was already received, which was not to look back. Someone, however, chose to look back; if the other individual – the leader, in this case looked back, there would have been more casualty.

Also, in the Bible, the Ark, which Noah constructed at God’s instruction, had time to close, some of the animals and humans already settled in it. Those who decided not to enter would not cause the door of the ark to be opened forever – the flood is on its way. The leader had to close the door for the Ark to begin its journey.

Leadership is tough because there are often tough decisions to be made – tough decisions like not waiting for everyone to come on board before moving on.