Is leadership about ‘I’ or ‘We’?

The prevalent COVID-19 pandemic has brought leadership under strong scrutiny. All leaders of any sort of democratic country have been minutely dissected by the press and civil society. Aotearoa – New Zealand seems to have come off on top. Our leader has even been ranked as better than most others. Some countries have even expressed the wish that she leads them! Let me give you a layman’s (and a resident’s) view of what we see.

Our leader has a fantastic team behind her. The science has been adhered to unwaveringly. She has been extremely lucky. LUCK as we know plays more than a small part in leadership decisions being vindicated. However, there seems to have been certain cardinal rules to this formula of success. The safety of the general populace has been paramount. All those involved in the decision-making process have probably had differing views and opinions but once the debates were over in closed confines, they have presented a united face. There have been no dissenters in the ranks! The modus operandi has been ‘GO EARLY AND GO HARD’. Again, followed without question and every single time. Scientists have been used to forecast possible scenarios and the public have been advised in advance. For example, we always knew that the Delta variant was coming, it was simply a matter of time. All businesses were prepared and had contingency measures in place. Let’s not talk about the financial measures and relief available to affected people and businesses because we cannot compare the economic situations of NZ vis-à-vis the Pearl. Communication was and is the key. Every working day, the Prime Minister and the head scientist in charge front up for a press conference, live on TV and after appraising the public, are available for questioning by the press. Never has the PM referred to decisions taken as taken by her as an individual, she has always said that those decisions have been made by the cabinet. Aotearoa had a level 4 lockdown imposed with around six hours’ notice when one confirmed case, of what had not been determined at that stage as the Delta variant, had been reported. Level 4 means that only supermarkets, fuel stations, certain corner grocery stores known as dairies, and pharmacies are open.

Now, I have just finished listening to an address made to the nation by the fearless leader of the Pearl. A token lockdown has been imposed. Emphasis was made on more than one occasion that the decisions made have been made by the President himself! Even when the plural was used, it was more in keeping with the royal ‘we’ than with any real acknowledgment of the others involved. The main emphasis of the speech seemed to be to blame the failure of the economy on COVID-19. It is interesting how Lankans pronounce the word COVID with short emphasis on the O when the rest of the world uses a longer O!

Certain businesses employing huge sections of the public remain open. Fuel stations may be closed as there is obviously no money to import fuel. Furthermore, assurances from the new minister in charge, that there is plenty of fuel in the country, are certainly a clear indication that the commodity is running out. All future economic chaos (it was coming long before this lockdown) will be blamed on this lockdown and the people who instigated it. Since a letter signed by the Buddhist prelates is partly responsible, I wonder if these monks who live in sheltered temples with no real knowledge of the economy and what fuels it, will share the blame. It is pretty certain however that this passing of the blame (which Pearl politicians excel at) will lose its credibility. There is also a line of thinking that the proposed black flag campaign of the Catholic church, in protest of the coverup of the Easter Sunday carnage has now been stymied. Although I don’t understand why. If the flags have been distributed, put them up O people of the Pearl, put them up, and display your righteous indignation at the state-sponsored cover-up of this massacre of innocents and something that sparked off the economic collapse that we are facing. I am sure all of you recall that this happened long before the advent of COVID-19. In fact, it happened on the eve a certain candidate declared his intention to contest the forthcoming presidential election. Furthermore, the JVP seems to be resorting to its tactics of calling for shutdowns ad hoc and gaining much credibility. Another example of cheap, unprincipled political piggybacking!

I saw a proposal to contribute half the salaries of all the political fat cats of the country into a COVID-19 fund from which money will be disbursed to those who need it. This will not be a problem for the aforesaid fat cats as they have plenty stashed away from commissions to keep them and their families in clover for a few generations to come. In fact, even donating their full salaries will not make a difference to them. The disbursement of the money will be ridden with corruption without a doubt. It may be better to use this money to prepare cooked food packets and distribute at least one square meal a day to those who want it. Army camp kitchens, hospitals even hotels that are under capacity and the parliamentary kitchen can be utilised.

The gist of this foray into analysis on leadership is to try and point out that leadership is not something for an ‘I’ specialist as we used to say. Leadership definitely stems from a team with each and every member pulling their weight. Accurate analysis, true facts, and the ability to make rational well thought out decisions are not the prerogative of an individual however deluded they may be with regard to their ability or even popularity. Not only must decisions be reached by the majority, but all credit should also be given to the personnel involved and acknowledgment made of their input. That is another way of sharing the blame should there be blame but then again that means any kudos also must be shared!