10 Yoruba proverbs that will improve your leadership qualities.
Arm your leadership with ancient wisdom!
Yoruba proverbs are rich in wisdom. Giving pearls of wisdom through the metaphors of everyday activities and objects. Proverbs are popular in spoken language, and form part of the folklore of a culture, passing down the generations.
Arm your leadership with these ancient wisdom from Yoruba proverbs.
1. Jẹ́ kí ńfi ìdí hẹẹ́, lálejò fi ǹti onílé sóde.
Let me just hang in here is how a guest takes over the house from a host.
Meaning:
Give an inch and lose a mile. Things like bad habits and fear creep in quietly and if left unchecked becomes a huge problem and overtakes you.
It looks small, a little compromise, a little distraction, a little sin, a little mistake but in the long run will affect you ultimately.
People with lung cancer started with one cigarette, didn't affect them for a long time and then suddenly destroyed them.
Once you accommodate it, you've accepted it. You won't see a problem with it, sometimes you might not even realize that's how you behave. Don't accommodate bad habits and fear it will ruin your leadership.
2. Bí agbada ò bá gbóná, àgbàdo ò leè ta
If the frying pan is not hot, the corns cannot pop.
Meaning:
Good things don't always come easy; no pain, no gain. The roughest seas make the most skillful sailors.
Don't lose faith when you're faced with challenges. Don't see it as a problem, see it as an opportunity to be better, to solve a problem, to come out with a testimony.
You know a brave warrior by their scars. Terrible times make strong men.
You can be a great leader without facing serious challenges.
That's what hard times are for; to make you great!
3. Mo gbọ́n tán, mo mọ̀ ọ́ tán, l'agbọ́n ọ̀ ṣe l'óró bí oyin
Wasps' claim to be the wisest and the best is why they have less potent venom than bees.
Meaning
Humility is it: pride and arrogance weakens; it's not smart to brag and boast, regardless of your success: no one has it all made.
There's a concept known as the Dunning Kruger effect. It is a cognitive bias whereby people with low ability, expertise, or experience regarding a type of task or area of knowledge tend to overestimate their ability or knowledge.
It was discovered that those who always claimed to know much about a thing and were quite confident didn't know as much as high performers who on the other hand always underestimated their skills and knowledge.
Truth is, anyone who is a consistent learner is always humble. The more you learn, you realize how little you know and how foolish you've always been.
As a leader, stay humble and keep learning.
4. Ẹ̀sọ̀ ẹ̀sọ̀ ni ìgbín fi ǹgun igi.
Slowly and steadily is how snails climb trees.
Meaning:
Patience and persistence are crucial for one's success.
Patience is a virtue. There's no such thing as overnight success. Keep at it, slowly but surely.
Don't rush, speed thrills but it kills. The faster you move, the more errors you make. Move with urgency, be persistent in your dealings but never be hasty.
The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step and another and another.
The fastest way is to go slowly.
5. Àjànàkú kọjá a mo rí nǹkan fírí; báa bá rí erin ká wí.
An elephant is beyond what can be said to be seen in a jiffy (its presence is unmistakable); if we've seen one, we should admit it.
Meaning:
Give credit where credit is due; recognize the contribution of others.
This is crucial for effective leadership. Always admit the contribution of your team and their efforts. Don't take credit for an idea or a breakthrough that didn't come from you.
Mention their name, celebrate them, give them a gift, thank them for their effort and believing in your vision.
This inspires them to do more and influences others to buckle up. Everyone wants to be celebrated and be seen.
Let your team know that you see them and their effort and contribution.
This works like magic, I do it with my team all the time and it works so well.
6. Nínú ìkòkò dúdú ni ẹ̀kọ funfun ti ńjáde
Out of the black pot nonetheless comes the white pap.
Meaning:
Write-off no one; no matter how deplorable a situation is, good may still come out of it: always remain positive and keep hope alive.
Gold in its unrefined state looks rough and unattractive, after it's polished begins to shine.
Don't write off people as a leader. One of your responsibilities is to see the good in people and see possibilities in unlikely places and situations.
Even my Lord and Savior, Jesus was born in a manger. There was a saying that nothing good could come out of Nazareth; but we see Jesus. Born to Joseph, a carpenter, died as a criminal on the cross but now exalted as the Supreme Lord of the Universe (Pantocrato) in this world and in the world to come.
Write no one off!
7. Ọ́kàndìnlógún tó lóun ò bá oókan ṣe, à ti di ogún ùn rẹ̀ á nira
The number 19 that insists it won't be associated with 1, will find it tough to become 20.
Meaning:
Isolation is risky, build bridges and collaborate more; we need one another: together we all achieve more.
There's no such thing as a self-made man in leadership: we need one another. If you see anyone that isolates himself/herself they'll always remain small.
Connect with people with a vision and strong values, learn from leaders that have gone ahead of you, from their mistakes, their experiences, their mindset, their values.
Dear leader, Don't isolate yourself!
8. Ọmọ ọ̀lẹ làyè ò lè gbà, ibi gbogbo ló gba alágbára
Only a lazy person has issues coping, every situation suits a fellow, just fine.
Meaning:
Diligence pays; often a diligent, 'can do' attitude does make a way, where it seems none exists
Every great leader is diligent in their dealings. There's always a way for the diligent but the lazy will always give excuses.
Be diligent!
9. Tí ẹṣin bá dá'ni, a máa ńtun ún gùn ni.
If one is thrown down by a horse, one ought to mount it again
Meaning:
If you try and fail, try again: if you don't try and keep trying, you can't win; it's not how many times you fall that counts, but how many times you get up.
As a science student there's something we learnt in school called 'experiment'. You won't always get it right on your first attempt but if you keep at it, you'll get it.
So is life: try out things. You won't always get it right the first time. There's a very tiny chance that you will.
Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before he came up with the light bulb. The same is with every meaningful invention that has ever been created.
Never give up!
10. Adìyẹ ńlàágun, ìyẹ́ ara rẹ́ ni ò jẹ́ kà mọ̀
Hens are sweating too; it's their feathers that conceals it
Meaning:
Be empathetic, don't be too quick to write off or draw sweeping conclusions on anyone; often there is more beneath the surface.
Empathy is important in leadership because it helps leaders to build strong relationships with their followers, understand their needs and motivations, and create a positive work environment.
With empathy, leaders are better able to connect with their team members on a personal level, which in turn improves communication and increases trust and respect.
Additionally, empathy can improve employee engagement and job satisfaction, as employees feel heard and valued. This can lead to increased motivation, creativity, and productivity, and ultimately result in improved performance and success for the organization.
This all contributes greatly to your leadership journey.
Go on and lead with purpose!