Synopsis "Why Great Leaders Are Catalysts (in English)"
For more than a century the debate has been raging on whether great leaders are born or whether they are made. The purpose of this book is not to enter into that debate and attempt to establish an answer, instead the book is aimed at creating an awareness that leaders need to act as catalysts. The approach of this book is to highlight the fact that all of us at certain times in our lives need to be leaders, whether we choose to or not. Whenever you are placed in a situation where you become responsible for someone else's actions, or you have someone that needs to report back to you, you are placed in a leadership role.A mother wants to be a leader for her children, although she has no ambition to become the next president, she wants to be there to show her children the right way and to do her very best to ensure they avoid the dangerous pitfalls in life. A father wants to be a leader for his family because he wants to set the example for his children and build a legacy for himself, his children and the generations to follow.As we move our way through this complex pathway called life, we display different ambitions at different times. A wife may not especially want to lead a team, yet she is in charge of the household and needs to lead in areas that concern the specifics that involves running a household. She may not be a born leader, but her instinct requires that she take charge of the situation. You might argue that there are those people who have no inclination to lead and have something similar to a "I don't care," attitude, yet you will find a leader amongst them. In all facets of life, you find various degrees of leadership.This book is not just another one of those millions of books on leadership that has been churned out over the past century, nor do we want to question who is and who isn't a leader. This book is born out of the frustration that we meet people that have climbed the corporate or political ladder and project themselves as leaders, but will never become great leaders, as they have no concept of what it takes to become a catalyst.Great leaders become catalysts because they become that spark that ignites a fire in the business, religious or political world. You will find religions that have leaders with a small congregation or membership because people follow them, but they will never succeed in their quest because they don't understand the concept of being a catalyst. The same can be said for any organization.If you want to become a catalyst you need to find that spark, that singular event or message that becomes the trigger for that atomic bomb you are sitting on.Jesus did not come to earth to tell everybody that would listen to Him about heaven and how beautiful it will be one day. He did not sell a dream. He had one clear message: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."Although that message was driven with passion, it came with some clear reality checks. You had to admit that you were a sinner; you had to repent and turn away from your sins; you had to follow a process of asking forgiveness for your sins committed against your neighbours, friends or family. Nowhere was there any proclamation that it would be a joy-ride or an easy journey, yet people followed Him. A new religion was born called Christianity all because Someone was a catalyst. He set the whole world on fire with His message. He had a singular message, but He had to show the way, teach the principles and stand by what He said, even when they crucified Him, the message stayed the same. - Penny Du Toit and Dr Rowan van Dyk
