The Real Test Of Leadership
Recently I read a thought provoking passage from an Essay written by former British PM Tony Blair in which he said – “The real test of leadership – amongst all the tests of policy, judgement, politics and ability – is whether, in the final analysis, you put the country first; that ultimately you are prepared to put what you perceive to be the common good of the nation before your own political self. It is the supreme test. Very few leaders pass it.”
Now I know that he is referring to political leadership but the principle he is espousing applies to all leadership situations. And to be honest I agree with him, that it is my experience, that ‘very few leaders pass it’.
Leaders in any situation are called to make decisions that are for the common good of the organization that they represent. Those decisions are often swayed by a number of factors. One of which is always self. How will this decision affect me? It takes an exceptional leader to ruthlessly go beyond self and purely concentrate on one factor – what is good for the organization as a whole.
This type of leadership takes raw courage. Usually even with the best communication possible to attempt to explain the decision one cannot get the true reason for the decision to everyone affected.
Hence leader’s popularity sways. The leader becomes unpopular – loses friends and makes ones enemies even more bold and vocal. The ability for people to make their opposition visible by ‘leaving’ the organization only makes the leader’s decision far more difficult.
It is interesting that former USA President George W Bush is not doing what all former Presidents have done and writing his memoirs but is writing a book explaining the key and somewhat controversial decisions of his term office.
I have discovered that leadership is often making decisions that, if right, will eventually be proven to be correct but at the time the pain of that decision can be almost too much to bear. Ultimately not everyone is happy with the decision – again, because people are so subjective about how the decision affects them personally.
Leadership is weighing up what is the common good for the organization and then in the loneliness of leadership itself, making the decision knowing encouragement and brickbats will come your way.
Yet one thing provides comfort – it is when you as a leader rests your head on the pillow that night, it is with a clear conscious. The common good has been meet and you as a leader have had the courage to evoke it.
Who?
It caught my attention a little by surprise to be honest – I overheard someone ask ‘Who are your heroes?’ I was surprised by my reaction because as a history buff I can recite the heroes. Those leaders that changed the course of history and made a difference always come to my mind.
Yet instead of those people some other names came to mind. Perhaps I am influenced by my recent visit to China but here are my heroes – I won’t use their last names – Kyla, Alison, Karen, Anna, Justin, Lisa and Samantha. ‘Who?’ I hear you say if you don’t recognize those names?
Perhaps that’s the point – they are not known to the millions, not the latest conference speakers, not the material for books or magazine articles although they should be, not materially wealthy, not corporate flyers, they don’t speak and influence huge crowds – well you know what I mean?
They are a group of people who have given their lives to leave their country of birth, their homes, their families, their comforts, their opportunities for wealth and privilege in order to make the lives of disabled orphans enhanced. Day after day – year after year – that is what they do. No self seeking publicity, no self promotion, no power tantrums and each of them would be embarrassed at the slightest mention of the tag hero.
Are heroes those among us who dedicate their lives to the enrichment of another’s life without the expectation of reward or recognition? Usually unrecognizable faces in the crowd who you would pass without even noticing? There is a vast army of them out there – far more than the self indulgent celebrity army.
So to Kyla, Alison, Karen, Anna, Justin, Lisa and Samantha and the many other heroes that live quietly in the shadows enjoying their hidden status let me say thank you. You inspire me, you humble me and you motivate me greatly. Your unassuming modestly and humility is a virtue worth aspiring to.
Your selflessness draws me from the limelight into the shadows.
Your capacity to serve others propels me to my knees with a towel and bowl of water in hand.
Your reluctance for self promotion drives me to hiddenness.
You are indeed my heroes! Thank you!
Disposable Leadership
Some twenty-seven years later I can see and remember clearly, as if it was yesterday, the scene before me. It was the night of the 29th of August 1983 and it had been a memorable day and night. I was driving to my parent’s home to tell them the news that their first grandchild had been born. Nicholas Mark Edwards had arrived – I was excited to say the least, but the scene in front of me was somewhat unnerving.
My parents home was lit up – it seemed that every light in the home was now on. There were cars everywhere – each bearing a news or radio network insignia on the car door. There were people everywhere. Surely the birth of my first child was not that newsworthy.
I walked into the home past strangers, television lights and microphones all in abundance. My mother came racing towards me holding a tray load of food and wanting to know the gender and associated details of her grandchild. ‘By the way’, she said, ‘Your father has resigned tonight’. Dad had been the Deputy Premier and Treasurer of the State of Queensland until being replaced by someone else in a back-room coup. He had resigned. So Nicholas was not the news? How clearly I still remember! That night forged an opinion in me that still resides.
Why do we seem to dispose of our leaders so quickly? Men and women who place themselves in a position of leadership in many areas of society from church to politics to sport can find themselves replaced and disposed of. Our former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd must surely know what I mean. Is our society so used to disposability that at the first sign of trouble our thoughts turn to getting rid of the leader?
Backroom coups, instant dismissals and not thought though sackings seem to be acceptable if the end result justifies the means. Talk to any coach of a professional football team about disposability!
What has happened to hanging in there through the valleys, perseverance during hard times, loyalty when things are not going that well or faithfulness and allegiance without blame when popular opinion is talking disposability?
Good leaders with character and competence are just too few on the ground to be getting rid of them when the ‘polls are against them’ or the populace wakes up in the mood for a change.
I know what it is like to lead in good, bad and indifferent times. I have seen disposability up close and personal more times than I wanted to.
Call me old-fashioned but I believe the gift of leadership is too rare to be disposed of quickly. I am not saying leaders should stay forever but to dispose of them on the basis of hard or difficult times seems to me to be part of a disposable culture that for me is troubling.
Let’s value the virtues of loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, allegiance and commitment especially towards those too few individuals who have the courage to get out the front and lead. Yes – I still remember that night all too well!
Sacred Places
Ken Burns is one of my favourite film and documentary makers – I have loved his work ever since he brought the American Civil War to life on SBS a few ago. Recently in Chautauqua N.Y. (reported by Nancy Gibbs in Time 30/8/10) Burns spoke about sacred places.
The concept of sacred places has always intrigued me. They are the places, which seem to hold some very deep meaning for people. In many cases it is a very personal spiritual encounter. The place has an experience attached to it – sometimes it is a personal incident, sometimes a conflict, a wonder of nature, a tragedy or loss or a momentous event.
It is a place where reality and divine meet. Always different for each person – one place can be just a place to one and for another it can be that place of hallowed ground.
I have known some of these places – almost stumbled across them. They sneak up on you often taking you by surprise. St Paul’s Church Manhattan New York directly across the road from Ground Zero, Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington and the spot where Martin Luther King Jnr gave his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial are places that I have been deeply moved when I have stood there.
You sense something when you are at those places. Sometimes it is the sense of sacrifice as those who have visited Gallipoli have spoken of, sometimes a sense of God’s creation and beauty at a picturesque scenic place, sometimes it is a place of memory perhaps good perhaps not so good and sometimes it is just a special place where your spirit is alive.
I think everyone of us craves for that sacred place where revelation, healing, creativity, inspiration and imagination abound. We feel safe yet respectful, inspired yet frightened, creative yet overawed and worshipful yet insignificant.
I want to be constantly on the lookout for these sacred places because they seem to be places where God speaks to my heart and somehow I am prepared to listen more intently. Yes – my heart and my soul longs for those scared places. What about you?
Climb To The Top (Part 3)
At home later that day – I was hurting really badly. Not just from the cuts but muscles that had not been used in that manner before were starting to complain. Not to mention parts of me that I fell on were now nicely bruising and as a result hurting a tad.
Yet as I looked from my home I could see the peak of Mount Flinders and I knew that I had been at the top that day.
Stories of others who turned back had been told to me but I had made it.
However I knew there was only one reason and one reason alone I had made it. Two mates had been there for me. We were a team. The team had made it. They believed in me, supported me, encouraged me and cared enough to slow down their assent and descent so we could all make the climb up and back.
Had I been alone I would have turned back.
Had I been with strangers they may have left me.
But not Daniel and Kim – the two strong supported the weak.
Life must be done this way. When due to the falls in life sometimes it is good to have great friends to encourage you but also a good team that carried you when you can’t make it alone for a season.
A team that is prepared to go back for you, slow down for you, understand your situation, feel your pain, know your heart and be committed to you anyway even if it means a sacrifice for them.
A team of friends
A team of family
I reached the top of Mount Flinders that day but I learnt a lot about myself, two great friends and a little about life’s journey as well.
Yep – when I look at the peak I remember a good day!
