Name: Oscah

Title: Overseer

Organisation: ZAOGA Forward In Faith Ministries International

Born in 1962 on the 5th of March. Grew up in a religious family. Went to school both at primary and secondary levels. Responded to God's call into full-time ministry in 1992. Have been serving as a pastor since then. Received my pastoral training from 1992 to 1993. Further trained in Theological Studies in 2010. Currently looking for an opportunity to train in administration, management, or leadership in order to develop my skills in leading, managing, and administering.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Oscah's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Getting things done by your subordinates. Command a following. Archiving set goals.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I began to lead by having a knowledge of some things better than my colleagues, by assuming responsibility when others felt that they were not responsible, by doing more than what was expected, and by being willing to take the challenges before me.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Pray for 1-2 hours, read 4 to 8 chapters in 3 hours, do some manual work, and lastly spend the day doing administrative work.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

In order for one to achieve something as a leader he or she needs to possess a certain ability, one need to command respect, one need to be of a good reputation.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

I have learned that there are different ways of becoming a leader.

Leadership is about influence

Leadership can be by appointment.

Leadership takes character

Leadership is about achieving goals with others.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

The first thing I would encourage a young leader is to be a man or woman with a good reputation.

To have more knowledge than those whom you lead.

To give people what they cannot get anywhere.

To inspire others towards a goal.

To make sacrifices

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

The story of a humble man who was born in Zimbabwe, Manicaland Province in Ngaone. How God appeared to him when he was not educated but walked in faithfulness hid God's calling established one of the biggest churches in Zimbabwe and died when he had preached the gospel to over 165 nations and states.

His life has had a very strong impact on my life, especially knowing that he has achieved big things like building a state-of-the-art medical hospital, a several schools dotted in Zimbabwe and parts of Africa. He has lived a life that has proved him to be a leader. In his life, we can learn that in order for one to be a leader he or she needs to follow others and lead himself before he leads others.