As a leader, it is crucial for you to understand the people who come on your way as friends, lovers, co-workers, followers, and partners. Depending on the kind of relationship you intend to establish, the criteria you choose may vary. The interpersonal skill that helps to identify, understand, communicate, and relate with a lover completely differs with the skill you need to deal with friends, bosses, followers, employees, and partners. However, in this blog, I don't address all of these. I am going to give you just one general tip that might help you understand who is your supporter or distracter; stretcher or dragger; sympathetic or cynic; synergetic or antagonist, and so on.

For the sake of this discussion, we can divide people into three broader categories: forward or backward pushing or in the middle. Backward pushing are people who are more interested in your weaknesses, past failures, bad judgments, and so on. Most of their time, as they relate and work with you, is spent on criticizing, pointing fingers, and judging you and your performance. Rather than uplifting and encouraging you, and supporting your effort, and providing constructive criticism, they use every opportunity in pulling you down, dragging you all the way, discouraging, and undermining you and your passion. 

On the other hand, forward pushing people are those who are more interested in your strengths and future. They are preoccupied with your vision that they don’t have enough time to drag you to your past that doesn’t count any more. They are genuinely there both in their mind and heart because they love you regardless of your drawbacks and weaknesses. They care for you so much that they give their life, resources, and time as far as it advances your progress. If they pinpoint your weaknesses and drawbacks, it is to help you fill the gap, and compliment you. If they ever take you back into your past, their genuine desire is to provide you lessons, which you may use it as you move forward. 

Of course, there are people in between these two extremities. They are not either backward or forward pushing. They aren't there emotionally and with passion. They might have given you their hands and mind but not their life and heart. They are more of legalists. They are with you and push you forward when they agree with you and as far as their interest is maintained; pull you backward when they disagree with you or find a conflict of interest with the things you do. 

Once you understand who is backward or forward pushing or in the middle, then you know how to position and deal with them. You need all kinds of people at different levels. The difference is the distance they come closer to you. I emphasis that you should love all people, even if you may not like backward-pushing, and pendulum people. I know it is tempting to push back those backward pushing people. However, if your vision is big, you need all kinds of people that you should give back-pushing fellows chances before you abandon them. 

Note that some people may behave and act as distracters, draggers, complainers, and antagonists unconsciously. They might have been rejected, betrayed, or disappointed in their past relationship that they lash out their frustrations, without having much conscious control, against anyone who intend to connect and relate with them. Since they were betrayed once or more, they don't want to offer trustworthy and loyal friendship, love, and partnership. Nonetheless, I presume, it is possible to turn some back-pushing people into forward pushing.   

Leaders and change makers we know of were individuals who found the reason of there existence, and pursued it regardless of the challenges and skepticism they experienced at the early stage of their career. They pinpointed a problem (s), need (s), and/or gap (s) they were burdened with and passionate about, and they went out without the need to get approval from any one. Rather, at the early stage of their endeavor, they were undermined, ignored, ridiculed, rejected, and even attacked. However, as they persisted, they gained the support of many who believed in their cause. 

 

Are you, some how, waiting for others approval? Are you getting frustrated because of the cynicism you get from others? Or have you given up and dropped your dream and acting like a victim? My friend, these are parts of the process before you succeed, leave legacy, and get fulfilled. These are some of the prices you must pay before you enjoy the contentment, satisfaction, and peace that come with living for your reason of existence...

 

The days ahead of you are bright if you just cling on your cause, get up every day to lead it one step closer to the finishing line. Remain calm, and embrace every setback because they are making you a better person who can shoulder the success and recognition that is coming. These struggles and frustrations you have been experiencing will turn into testimonies and stories you will share to others so that they too may endure and withstand similar challenges at the early stage of their journey. These challenges will also shape your character and make you a person of honor. 

 

Therefore, as far as you are on the right track, keep going, enjoy the ride, and continue to endure failures, setbacks, and frustrations here and there. You are marked to succeed and thrive, don't quit or slow down. 

PRO Leadership provides mentoring programs for leaders in an effort to assist them lead their organizations with leadership excellence. We have four kinds of mentoring programs- Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. The first stage of mentoring at PRO Leadership is Bronze, which takes six sessions plus a final project.

 

 

 

PRO Leadership celebrated its Second Year Anniversary on October 22, 2011 at Marriott Hotel at Maryland University.

The Host of the event was NuNu Wako, an international talk-show host with millions weekly viewers. She brought her candid and graceful speaking ability to beautify the event.

The gifted poet Israel Getu shared her passion using her loaded and powerful poems. Her poems had powerful messages, challenges that stretch, and they called for actions. Great poems!

 

 

 

The vibrant hizNeway Band rocked the event with their original and classic songs of love, pursuance of passion, and hope. These young and like minded gifted artists used their unique individual gifting to work harmoniously. They uplifted the spirit of participants and motivated every one in attendance.

 

The founder and chairman of PRO Leadership presented the main points of his newly released book. In his presentation, he shared that this book has been in him for many years and it is partially memoir, partially policy book, and partially personal manifesto where he shared his religious, political, and philosophical beliefs and outlooks. He indicated his fears that some of his view points may anger some or irritate others but he hoped that there would be some common things each reader may share with him. He encouraged his readers to provide him their feedbacks, constructive criticisms, and reviews so that he may improve his writing as he continue to publish his coming books.

 

Following the presentation, three groups were formed to further discuss three subtopics led by three affluent moderators: Carla Blue (iCARE Solutions), Chuck Bowen (Regent University), and Teylama Herve Miabey (Howard University). These dynamic leaders in the area of their passion have practical experience by working with finest organizations in the USA and abroad. We have got lots of positive feedback about this format. Participants found the group discussion vibrant and educational. Unfortunately, since we didn’t have time, we stopped the group discussions even if participants wanted to continue debate and exchange their views.

Thank you all for your time, energy, knowledge and experience you shared, and resources you committed for the success of this event.

2.     Recruited five Board of Directors

3.     Formed the leadership

4.     Recruited eight Board of Advisors

5.     Endorsed a detailed Operational Agreement

6.     Crafted our fifty-year strategic directive and three-year strategic plan

7.     Federal tax exemption: 503 (c)(3) tax exempt status from IRS

8.     Maryland State income tax exempt

9.       Six graduates from Bronze Mentoring Program

10.   Published a book (Redefining Leadership)

September 19, 2011

 

Re: Celebrating the second-year anniversary of PRO Leadership Global Inc.

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

We kindly invite you to PRO Leadership’s second-year anniversary celebration. The event will take place on Saturday October 22^nd, 2011 from 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Registration starts at 1:30 PM) at Marriott Hotel in Maryland University. The Hotel is located at 3501 University Boulevard East, Hyattsville, MD 20783.

The theme of the event is “Leadership is the birthright of all: The roles of PRO Leadership, Partners, & Stakeholders”.  We will have a keynote speaker, and moderators who will provide initial thoughts before they open the floor for questions. Afterwards, participants will be broken into groups to further discuss the main points, and come back to report their findings to the whole team. Since you are going to be an active participant, please think about the following questions, and discuss with friends and colleagues before the event:

 

1.    Do the current leadership definitions embrace this grand truth?

2.    Is the debate on whether “Leaders are born” or “Leaders are made” fair and accurate?

3.    If everybody is a leader, who is the follower?

4.    How can an organization make everyone a leader?

5.    If leadership is the birthright of all, why do we have a very few leaders?

6.    What would our personal life, family, community, nation, and the world be if each one of us becomes leaders in the area of our passion?

7.    What would be the face of the 21^st C if each world citizen claims its leadership birthright and contributes its share in leading initiatives towards alleviating the challenges the generation is facing?

8.    What should be the roles of PRO Leadership and its Partners, and Stakeholders so that individuals could be able to claim their birthright and practice leadership wherever they find themselves? And more.

 

There will also be a book signing. I wrote a book entitled “Redefining Leadership: Navigating the Path from Birthright to Fulfillment in Life!” The book is almost ready and this is our hope that it will be available on that day. Here is the brief synopsis of the book:

 

“Redefining Leadership is a must read for everyone on earth. It declares the fact that leadership is the birthright of all. The book emphasizes that leadership isn’t a career or a privilege for the few but the key to fulfillment. It redefines leadership and helps individuals navigate the path from birthright to fulfillment in life. The book provides insights on how to embrace and practice leadership as a life pattern. It enlists the fruits of leadership and major bottlenecks that deter many from claiming their leadership birthright. It also equips readers to deliver themselves and come out ready to lead”. To learn more (Excerpt, TOC, Outline, & Advance Praises), check this link http://www.successpws.com/books

PRO Leadership Global Inc is a non-profit organization that aims at inspiring, training, and mentoring leaders who cannot access or afford formal leadership development resources and programs. For further information, you may please visit our web site @ http://www.proleadership.org   

 

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

 

Assegid Habtewold

Founder & Chairman,

PRO Leadership Global Inc.

Web: http://www.proleadership.org

Tel: 703-895-4551

Email: assegid@proleadership.org

 

Dear Supporters and Fans of PRO Leadership,

This is time to celebrate our second year anniversary. Since one of our values is Transparency, we want to make sure we provide detail info about our major decisions and activities. Besides, we want PRO Leadership to become the PEOPLE’s organization. Accordingly, here is a chance for you to get involved and be part of the movement.

1.    Date: Saturday October 22, 2011

2.    Time: 2 – 5 PM. The door opens 1: 30 PM

3.    Place: Marriot Hotel at Maryland University

4.    Theme: Leadership is the birthright of all: The roles of PRO Leadership, Partners, & Stakeholders

5.    Format: Panel discussion. We anticipate hot debates and exchange of views. We will have a Speaker ; Discussants; Ample time for discussion under the leadership of the Discussants; Poems/Jokes/Cake/Book Signing (Hoping that the book written by the Founder and Chairman- "Redefining Leadership: The Path from Birthright to Fulfillment in Life!” will be ready by then)

Mark your calendar. And also become active participant by involving in one or more of the following activities:

1.       Promote the event (We have limited seats: 50 – 60 leaders; First come first served; To make sure your seat is reserved, you may call us)

2.       Volunteer or Suggest a Speaker, Discussants, Event Masters, Poets, Entertainers, etc

3.       Find Sponsors and Donors. Sponsors- 100 USD/organization. We will post their logos on the flyer, acknowledge their support on the stage, and allow them to display their business cards, brochures, and products. For individual Donors- 20 USD/person (http://www.proleadership.org/support).

4.       Join the Organizers

Please call (703-895-4551) and/or email (info@proleadership.org) your suggestions, comments, pledges, etc. We look forward to hear from you.

Let’s make this event ours. Let’s make it a success. We did it last year; we will do it again!

Best regards!