Qualities: The qualities of leadership have also varied through the tunes. There was a time when the warrior by mere demonstration of courage, skills in battles and physical strength was embraced or made claims to leadership. Then there were the priests. In Europe at one time the Pope was the principle leader. The Aztecan priests, and other priests around the globe, were recognized and exercised authority as leaders. We have had intellectuals as leaders. The men of knowledge or the wise men. In many civilizations women emerged and were recognized as leaders. Leadership is about both men and women. Drupattie and Jansi Kiereni, Queen and Princess respectively in India, were leaders. The former even had seven husbands and the latter led battles against the British. Other examples of outstanding women leaders include Queen Nefertiti (1379 BC-1362 BC) known as the ruler of the Nile, Makeda (960 BC-930 BC) the legendary Queen of Sheba who ruled over both Ethiopia and Salsa, Queen Dahia al-Kahina (667 AD-702 AD) who was the guiding spirit of North African resistance to Arab invaders, Queen Gudit (937-997), the renowned warrior-queen Nzingha (1623-1663) who in 1622 represented her brother the king at a peace conference at Loanda with the Portuguese viceroy and the Asanti warrior-queen, Yaa Asantewa (1863-1923) who led a war against the British. Here in the USA, there were also a number of outstanding women leaders. The long list includes Sojoumer Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, Eleanor Roosevelt Mrs. Rosa Parks and others. Some leaders like Gandhi are considered excellent to inspire a nation to embark on extraordinary feats, like defeating the British Empire with the use of non-violence, but it took the skills and abilities of another leader, Nehru, to govern. Martin Luther King was another example of a spiritual leader who mobilized thousands of people to struggle for civil rights without the use of violence. Oratory has also been identified as an important skill of a leader. Fidel Castro is a leader, who has exemplified as a warrior, orator, intellectual and organizer. However, he is considered a dictator, and a maximum leader. Bill Clinton is considered an excellent leader in many quarters but denigrated by others because he has contradictions at the level of private morality. Increasingly, people are demanding that leaders exemplify both private and public morality. Masses not Angels: People very often want in leaders what they themselves are unwilling or unable to be. For example, how many people are honest in their daily lives: moral, ethical, spiritual, self-sacrificing, placing the vital interests of the planet above self, pleasures and passions? Don't people prefer that other people do the hard work, attend the meetings, set the example and make the sacrifice, while they fool around, drink beer, "fete" and enjoy looking at sports and television? Tthe masses are no saints. They are sometimes irresponsible, and through the democratic process, elect some of the worst personalities to lead. For example, Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela was once elected President. He was accused of corruption and barely avoided a jail sentence by one vote. Some years after wards, the Venezuelan people reelected Perez for a second time. On that occasion, once again, he was accused of corruption, found guilty and put under house arrest because of his age. Recently, in his home State he was elected Senator. How does one interpret and deal with this reality? The same is true of Imelda Marcos and her family who are in the process of political rehabilitation with the support of a significant section the failure of the population. Vision and Initiative Leaders must have vision and must be able to take initiatives to transform the vision. "Followership" is as important as leadership. As a matter of fact, it is an integral part of leadership. If a man or woman does not have the capacity to know when to follow then such a person would not be an effective leader. One does not have to be the maximum LEADER to be A LEADER. There are various levels of leadership and each is vitally important. THE LEADER will be unable to be effective if at the various levels of an organization or institution, leadership is dysfunctional. Most people agree that many of society's present day problems have to do with the failure of leadership at the level of the family unit. There are many leaders who have demonstrated vision and initiative. They include African-American aboliitionists who opposed slavery: from Frederick Douglassto Nat Turner. Crisis in the South: Those who belong to developing countries should be particularly concerned about the kind of leadership which have emerged, The Mandelas and Nyreres are few. The Suhartos, Milosevics, Abachas and others of their ilk are more common. In the sixties, books were written on how Latin America and Africa were underdeveloped by Europe and the North But today, if one were to reflect and write an explanatory essay on why many developing countries are in their present mess, one may very wel1 be tempted to develop a thesis on "How Leadership is Underdeveloping the Third World." Corruption, lack of accountability, inability to develop team leadership; insufficient dedication to upholding and aspiring to the highest standards; numbness to poverty; abuse of children, women and abandonment of the aged; politicking instead of policies; surrendering to northern controlled, global institutions to generate ideas and policies on development; inability to take initiatives; unwillingness to go against the wind for what is right; lack of principles, honor and self confidence; inability to recognize the importance of human resource development as key to a prosperous future, and to lead by example are some of the many defects of leadership. Global Standards: At the beginning of this new millennium, the world's realities are demanding a new kind of leadership. Information, knowledge and technology are the hub of these new times. The computer, the Internet and the television are the new tools which require new skills. Leaders in the new century will have to manage knowledge since the latter would become, if it is not already, the basis of the global economy. No individual is today perceived, as knowing everything. The new kind of leadership is team leadership: managerial, knowledgeable, accountable, transparent and democratic. In a way, this is not really new, but it would be accurate to note that it is now emphasized and increasingly considered indispensable. People seem to be tired of politicking and rhetoric. They are increasingly more interested in "smart" policies which can effectively solve their problems in their everyday lives. Policies and not Politicking may very well be one of the major themes of the new century. Integrity in public life means being credible by implementing commitments made to one's constituency. The struggle for excellence and global standards will increasingly become the norm. All this implies that national leaders would be judged by global standards. Paul Tennassee is a director of the World Confederation of Labor and its Representative at the United Nations. |