Leadership Facing the World Challenge

Are we surprised that human beings in this world is actually determined by just a few people as leaders? They are determinants of any policies of economy, war or peace. Of course, all of us have a dream of a leader able to bring people and the world into better conditions. Or, can we become a leader who is able to respond the world challenges? Ir. Tikno Iensufiie, M.Pd., MA, a lecturer in Faculty of Liberal Arts of Pelita Harapan University, Jakarta was interested to share his knowledge and skills to student activists of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta in a leadership training.

Placed in the Hall of LPP Sinode GKJ dan GKI, on Saturday, November 16, 2013, this activity was quite interesting for the participants. With the theme of “Leadership Facing World Challenge”, this one day training was divided into two sessions. The first session discussed the Leadership Challenge and Leadership Theory, while the second session discussed Leadership Motivation and Decision Making. Participants learned that the success or failure of an organization, enterprise, and even a person was determined by the leadership skill with its weaknesses dan strengths.

Paulus, a theology student from Duta Wacana Christian University asked, "Does one need access to be a leader?” Ir Tikno firmly said, “No, being a leader does not require access because basically humans have free-will (Human Free) both mental and physical strength. If the basic skills were not utilized properly, it will make the owner become the loser not the winner. Even leadership is an activity to influence others’ behavior, both individuals and groups without boundaries or rules of organization to achieve its goals”. Leadership is often assumed the same with management, with activities to achieve organizational goal considering bureaucratic manners and restriction which closely related with power achievement. In fact, a leader is different from a manager.

The conclusion of the training is, a person can be said to be a leader when s/he can influence others to work together to achieve goals leading to 1) glorify the God, 2) make humans more humane, and 3) conserve the nature. For the youth, the ability to lead a big group starts from ability to lead a small groups, even ability of self-leading. ***