Influence is for anyone who is passionate about bringing change

Based in Jos, Nigeria, Hankuri Tawus Gaya, co-author of Influence: Leading Without Position, had the opportunity to talk to radio listeners in Kenya, about his passion for youth and leadership, as well as his experience writing this book. If you haven’t heard about Influence before, we share part of the radio interview here with some insight into this exciting book that is bringing positive change to the lives of future leaders and change-makers.

What made you write this book?

It’s simple: God is interested in seeing true leadership, in Africa and everywhere in the world. Godly Leadership is one of the critical needs of Africa, and in our world today. In the family, in the church, in the society, in the marketplace, there’s an urgent need for godly leadership.

Today, in most of the contexts we have in Africa, there’s… this wrong perspective of leadership. Young people think you need to become a CEO somewhere, you need to have a position, you need to have a title, you need to have big money to be able to lead others. But we wrote Influence to help young people to have a new perspective about leadership. You’re a leader because you can influence someone. Leadership is everything. Leadership is critical. We need leadership every morning.

What makes this book, Influence: Leading Without Position, different from other books on leadership? And why should we go out and get a copy?

There are a lot of books on leadership but what makes Influence so unique is that it provides clear and practical answers to the questions in the heart of anyone who is passionate about bringing change. Everybody wants to bring change, but as Christians, we must not forget that true Christian leadership cannot work without God. And God must be at the center of it all because when God influences you to become God’s dream person, and you are able to influence others, together you change the world. That’s why this book is so unique.

It also contains practical life experiences of young people, in Africa particularly, who have taken the initiative to lead and make a difference without position, without a title. And then biblical examples of people like Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and several other young people who made a lot of difference without a position. So I think it’s so unique because it speaks to the heart, and it helps you see that right where you are you can make a difference. Whether you’re a lady, a young boy in the village, in the city, (in college), even if you’re an old person and desire to make a difference you will now get to understand that your age is a resource.

Are you saying that one can be a leader without having an official leadership position?

It is very possible because I am a living witness of this particular (situation). My father is a retired missionary. Growing up as a young boy… and going back to the village with my dad on the mission field, I tried to share a few ideas (with my elders) in my own way. I didn’t understand the principle of bringing influence and I was rebuked by older people who feel that you need to wait for your time. It was quite discouraging for me but I got to learn, over time, the basic principle from scripture, books, and conferences – I don’t need a position to be able to make a difference. And through those principles, I was able to get back to share ideas (like my dad) in practical ways that brought some dynamic learning to the church and I’ve even influenced at the top level of the church. For example, I’ve worked with church leaders to start up a conference for young people called The Youth Goal, mobilizing youth for missions. I wasn’t a leader, I was just a member of the church and a young person.

What has been your experience writing a book with Phil Morrison and publishing with Oasis?

I’ve written books before and, but working with Phil and Oasis (International) Publishing, it was a learning journey for me. It was an experience worth having, and it enabled me to become a better me, a better writer, and a better person. It was a journey of interaction – we got to work back-and-forth –  I was in Nigeria, the editor that I worked with was in Kenya, and some other people were (based) in different but we kept interacting, exchanging emails, talking, and sharing. So it exposed me to the world of publishing and it brought the fact together that you can’t succeed alone, you need a team to work.

When you get to work with Oasis, they also demonstrated that this issue of leadership and issue of influence, I think they also model it as a publishing house. No matter who you are, you don’t need some big title, big position, as long as you have content worth publishing they’ll work with you. Publishing with Oasis was a rewarding experience and something I’d encourage people to journey on when the time comes.

Click here to learn more about Influence: Leading Without Position and the co-authors, Phil Morrision and Hankuri Tawus Gaya.

Learn more about leading without position from these recent posts inspired by this book: “Me, a Leader?” and “Everyone can be and Influencer”

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