Many of us may have read books or articles which advanced various views of what constitutes a good leader. I have given much thought to this over the past week driven, in part, by the events surrounding the industrial action taken by public school teachers and in particular the disturbing, derogatory and cowardly statements made by our country’s leaders in relation to teachers. Cowardly, because the statements were made within the chambers of the House of Assembly where our leaders are quite aware they can seek refuge from potential liability under the skirt of the principle of parliamentary privilege. How could our leaders publicly demonstrate such little regard for the persons in whose hands our country’s future is molded?
Unfortunately, while the statements made in the House of Assembly on 15th January 2013 were upsetting, they were not surprising. It seems like Anguilla is fast becoming a society in which persons are not free to voice their opinions, particularly if they differ from or contradict the position of the Government, without fear of being publicly humiliated using traditional or social media. This does not bode well for a supposedly democratic society, especially one which is contemplating independence. It is also a sign of insecure and immature leadership, as it demonstrates an unwillingness to consider the views of others as well as the inability to handle criticism which is an unavoidable aspect of holding political office. The insecurity in our leadership is also evident when we contemplate that virtually every differing position is viewed as part of a conspiracy to topple the present Government. Why this is so, I am unsure. After all, our leaders have been given a mandate by the people who duly elected them as our representatives in a free and fair election process. In other words, our people have placed their confidence in our leaders. What then should we expect from them in return? Simply put, good leadership.
We cannot underestimate the importance of good leadership to nation building. I am sure all of us can call to mind frightening examples, both past and present, of what happens when a country’s leadership goes awry – oppression, poverty, social unrest, revolution, civil war, etc. Our history ought to remind us that we are not immune from such. Various authorities on good leadership reveal several commonalities, seven of which I outline here for consideration.
Firstly, a good leader is of exemplary character. He or she must accept responsibility for his or her actions, successes and failures, and ought to be someone that others can trust and would be proud to emulate. His or her character must exemplify the qualities he or she would wish to see in others. A good leader leads by example. Secondly, a good leader is visionary and enthusiastic about his or her work. A leader must have a long term goal in mind and work assiduously towards it. He or she must ensure that everyone around him or her shares the vision and is working equally hard to achieve it. Thirdly, a good leader is competent and confident in his or her ability to do the job. He or she must possess the capacity to do the work. A leader’s confidence must serve as an inspiration to others in the workplace so that they feel comfortable under his or her leadership.
Fourthly, a good leader is orderly and purposeful. He or she acts responsibly. He or she ought not to be impulsive or erratic, but rather contemplative and strategic. A leader must never lose sight of the overall goal and must always have a plan as to how it will be accomplished. Fifthly, a good leader is tolerant. He or she ought to demonstrate respect for the views of others even if they differ from his or her own. A leader must remain calm and composed in difficult situations and resolve differences amicably and professionally.
Sixthly, a good leader is committed to excellence. A leader ought to be ambitious and passionate about his or her calling. His or her passion for his or her work should be so infectious that no one around can escape infection unscathed. Lastly, a good leader is analytical. A leader ought to be able to carefully examine and think critically about any situation, giving due consideration to all the information available and identifying any additional information that may be needed in order to arrive at the best possible solution. He or she must be able to weigh the possible long term and short term consequences of any proposed action.
If you were to grade our leaders based on the above criteria, or if they were to grade themselves honestly, what grade would they get? Our leaders are ultimately accountable to the people and it our responsibility, as a people, to demand better leadership from them. I am sure they fully recognize that just as they were duly elected, they can be duly un-elected if they do not rise to the occasion and be the kind of leaders our people deserve.
It is my hope that my reflections inspire our leaders to make the adjustments necessary to earn a place in our history books as not only good, but great leaders.
