The Prophetic Leadership Model

After you have taken the time to read through my bio, qualifications, vision and priorities, I would like to summarize here key aspects of effective leadership:

1- Bias for actions:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ (2) كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ

Success is only achievable through actions which focus on root-cause analysis and problem solving. I believe GIS parents and board members are highly resourceful but where we are way behind is in focusing on the outputs which are derived from actions and execution.

2- Raising the bar:

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Growth can not be achieved when we become content and satisfied with what we have. Success can be achieved only when we have ambition, when we insist on highest standards in all aspects of our plans and actions.

3- Focus on issues that matters:

وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ

Practical people know how to set their priorities correctly, how to optimize their time, how to identify issues that matter and disregard anything else. We as a community often get distracted from our core priorities which should be mainly around the growth of our children holistically. When one aspect is nurtured and others are ignored for a long time we end up building a character that has an incomplete personality with wrong biases.

4- Unite, influence, energize and drive:

وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعٗا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْۚ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءٗ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦٓ إِخۡوَٰنٗا وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٖ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡهَاۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ

True leaders unit their followers and community. They know how to influence people and motivate them to deliver target results. They know how to coach others into being practical, productive and successful. They have a strong sense of ownership and a desire to make everyone around them successful.

5- Repeatable processes:

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۖ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ ۗ قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَالَمِينَ

True leaders know how to manage resources efficiently and lead people effectively and establish a repeatable process that continues to grow even when they are not around. They create a long lasting impact that lasts for generations.

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْءَاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

Such deep level of qualities have never been witnessed in altogether in a man like Prophet Muhammad, peace be Upon Him. He is our utmost role model. Still after nearly 1450 of the beginning of his message, billions continue to follow him, and aspire to mimic every aspect of his character and personality.

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا

We often disregard the leadership qualities of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and focus on religious aspects only. But, in full truthfulness, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the best leader to ever walk on the face of earth.

Brothers and sisters, I encourage each one of you to research the topic of the "Leadership lessons from the Life of Prophet Muhammad".

I have chosen Prophet Muhammad, Peace be Upon Him as my role model. He is the person with the character I constantly spire to mimic and follow. With that, I set the bar too high for myself. Hence I become in a constant journey to learn, improve, practice and grow. I plan to help the school to integrate the prophetic model of leadership of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) into the school curriculum and operation. The fruits of such change will inspire many generations to come as we can raise students who are true and sincere role models.