Cardinal sins of leadership

LENNOX FRANCIS

THERE IS trouble brewing worldwide. Everywhere is war, rumours of war, civil unrest and protests. The security forces to protect the state are now being exploited by those in authority to cover their misdeeds. Leadership is on and under fire.

Two of the most powerful virtues ascribed to leaders are wisdom and understanding. The offspring of these are prudence, truth, knowledge, discretion, sound judgment, riches and honour that bring enduring wealth, prosperity and justice.

When leadership goes astray the following traits are noticeable:

Just like God. Claims of all-knowing overshadow their mortality. They do not wonder about nature but operate as if they are the architects directing man to his destiny. The voice of the people as the voice of God no longer applies when it is time for removal.

Power of examples. Leaders expect followers to “do as I say and not as I do” and expect corruption to be overlooked or, when confirmed, to be forgiven.

Arrogance. Leadership once thought to be God-sent seems to be operating with hidden and alternative agendas. Leaders know it all and have the solutions. Their constant shifting of the goalpost to solve problems convinces the populace that they lack knowledge.

Untruths. There are deliberate attempts to deceive or forget promises and agreements. They say what they don’t mean and do what they didn’t say. They mis-speak, give misinformation and false logic. Their words distort reality and their behaviour is counter-productive.

Perverse hands. They give with one hand and take back with the other. They boast of what they have done. They blow their own trumpets and praise themselves with national awards.

Wealth. They accumulate possessions well in excess of the rewards they receive for serving the public. In their ruthlessness they swallow the disgrace that comes with pride and leave the state vulnerable to destruction.

Scheming heart. Leaders laugh and talk with all but their schemes are to further the interest of the inner circle. The latter has knowledge of “insider information” and are not hurt by sudden draconian policies.

Rushing feet. Like an uncontrollable wind they rush headlong into evil self-opinioned activities.

Oppression of the poor. Empathy is lacking and the measure of success in governing is being able to balance budgets. The basic needs of people are not being met using best practice as in both democratic and totalitarian states there is poverty, greed and hoarding. On the way up a campaign to elevate the poor is music to the ears. But leadership thrives on making the mighty mightier at the expense of the down-trodden poor.

Dissension. Party against party, brother against brother and race against race is the code to divide and rule to hold on to office.

Straying population. Not in its wildest dreams leadership sees itself as luring people astray. Its view is more like people are not listening and committing their own suicide. For leaders there is never poor leadership and no link to the misled.

Not quitting. Just as economies of scale have diminishing returns, so too does leadership. Protesting and disgruntled populations are signs that leadership does not have its feet on the ground but its head in the clouds.

Paranoid. Sensing removal, leaders are consumed by the passion to hold on to office. They trump up make-belief plots to assassinate them and the seeds of that panic morph into states of emergency, curfews and other nefarious measures to restrict the alleged subversion of the state.

Crocodile tears. Whenever the foot soldiers of leaders are caught wanting, leaders find a way to confirm their care for the masses. Tears and investigations are their substitutes for proper monitoring and evaluation of the services they provide.

Power to forgive. When the knights of the round table are cornered, leadership comes to the
rescue to forgive sins. Bad reports are sanitised and with the words of forgiveness slates are wiped clean and souls restored to sainthood.

Cover-up. Leader can consign wrongdoing to the archives without the walls hearing. They remain at an uncomfortable rest until someone stumbles on them and raises an alarm.

Demise. Harsh admonishments of the public and even the use of derogatory language; collapse of state institutions; indecision and bad decision-making; secret deals and lack of transparency, integrity and accountability; checks and balances ignored; attempts to distract the public from real issues; justification of people misbehaving in public office; the blame game; lack of enthusiasm to govern; a cry for higher remuneration or even a complaint that people are becoming too difficult to manage...these herald the death of leadership for even leadership has a shelf life.