By Segun Ige
Sir: Professor Harry Kraemer’s perspective on the principles of values-based leadership is paramount in the 21st-Century democracy. First is self-reflection, which means productive examination of one’s potentials and capabilities.
According to Kraemer, “It’s thinking about, ‘What are my values, what am I going to do with it?’” Through it, in other words, we discover ourselves, develop ourselves better and distribute our tapped gifts for the growth of the country. Second is a balanced perspective which, he says, is listening to all but leaning to none.
That is, the ground-norm of good leadership is grounded in the fundamental principle of carrying everybody along, and so maintaining a certain level of fairness, understanding, which ultimately guides the acceptability of one’s decision and applicability of one’s perception in a people-centered democracy.
Another principle he mentions is true self-confidence. Put differently, it is the ability to remain assertive and persuasive amidst opposition and adversity.
A self-confident character, hinged on an unwavering conviction, admits when s/he’s wrong, when it appears everyone is afraid of the threats of saying and standing by the truth.
To cap it all, genuine humility is the hallmark for a sustainable leadership. It makes democratically defined leaders accept their obligations have been flouted in one way or another.
With this principle, Kraemer apparently argues, leaders would easily admit they won or lost some election, and would by no means be counter-productive against their fellow democrats.
The essence of democracy is to make us united. When we are united as a country, we channel our time on better things than demand absolute concentration and consecration.
For example, education is the bedrock of nation-building and backbone to the citizens. So if we are united and co-operative, we’d invest in the education of our future generations. Future because the baton of leadership would one day be handed over to them.
Modern tools and equipment that would facilitate and fast-track learning should have been incorporated into our educational system.
If we had been more digital, the novel coronavirus outbreak wouldn’t have been an infringement on our academic calendars and schedules.
That is to say that we’d not be talking about traditional systematic “paper-and-pencil” approach to learning, even in the 21-st century.
Democracy makes us free and fair. It is the springboard to live a life characterised by inclusivity, humility and empathy.
Taken one after another, democracy fuels inclusion, not only during electoral processes. Even more important, it’s a means of settling conflicts and crises, in “small” but delicate and important matters.
Consider, for instance, how multi-tenanted occupants would live peacefully without some democracy or other. Now and then, what makes communities strong and secure is because of the principle of inclusion they bring to bear.
Democracy makes us developed and dependent. When we are democratically inclined, when we have been cultured by democracy, and when democracy is the defining patterns and principles of our lives, we become more dependent and respected.
Economically, we will not be at the back-line. Politically, we’d gain the trust and respect of the citizens. Other-wise, we’d be responsible for the growth and development of ourselves and also our states.
As an example, a number of us yearn to live in other countries, forgetting the historical prowess, prosperity and posterity we had in the days of yore.
Instead of sitting back and thinking how we can be self-confident and self-dependent, we’re busy daydreaming and dilly-dallying of going to the land filled with milk and honey.
Think about what’s happening in the U.S. and in Hong Kong. While the former is trying and struggling to quell the demonstrators and protestors, sparked by the death of the unarmed black American George Floyd, the latter is itself wrestling with certain pro-democracy protesters and activists over the China security law and Hong Kong’s bill on Chinese national anthem. And yet, these are some of the countries we think we have got hope and happiness.
What’s next? June 12 calls for a moment of reflection on the four values-based leadership outlined by Kraemer. To remain steadfast and sure in this rapidly changing and largely indeterminate firmament, we need to preach and practice these productive and profitable leadership principles.
We need to be conscious, as we consider, the long-term consequences of every short-term action and decision. Democracy we stand!
- Segun Ige, igesegunadebayo5@gmail.com
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