Crises possess a hidden potential
According to Helen Keller: “Character cannot be developed in an ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Dr. Harv Powers
The genocide consequences affected my leadership style and my character. Growing with those wounds in a country like Rwanda, produced in me a person suffering with identity crisis and unbalanced character. I grew up making a lot of efforts to prove to people that I can do everything. Meaning that, my life was driven by the external factors than my internal character. I have had ups and downs in my life projects.
First, I failed in many of the business I made as when I was starting a business and find that it is failing, I could leave it immediately. That is the lack of perseverance and patience which are the qualities of a leader. Among the businesses I have made so far, I can mention that I made a business of planting vegetables and fruits in 2010. I had green houses and even the Government funded me. Unfortunately, in 2013 when I found that, I was not gaining much benefit, I quit. In 2010 I started a Non-Profit Organization, and when I could not find donors, I left that behind me since I restarted in 2020. I imagine if I had patience, today I would have a big organization. Those are the mistakes I made in business. However, I tried other businesses that succeeded.
Second, in the area of ministry I have also made some leadership mistakes that made me failure. One of the mistakes that I made which made my career not grow, were about pushing hard things. Walking or acting before God act. I planted a church in 2018 and made that church public. It was closed immediately. When they closed the church, I hated the government leaders. The same case happened last year I 2023 when I started again the church and I was in a rush, I pushed the leaders to offer the church certificate that it ended up in a refusal. When I analyze myself in the lens of leadership and character development, I realize that I still have a long journey to go so that I qualify to be a Servant leader.
Third, I have in my Company fourteen staff that I supervise, and I sometimes found me being so demanding. In the Book Redemptive Leadership by Dr. Harv Powers, I found that a good leader must be serving the supervised staff, serving the community.
Blessings,
Rev. Sereine Nterinanziza