I have been thinking about leadership this month. Mainly because I feel that we are lacking quality leaders in the world. I am also concerned about people who are seeking leadership positions and I shudder to imagine what damage they could do if they were to obtain such positions.
Years ago, I completed a paper on leadership under my MBA and I have done some executive leadership courses but none really have resonated with me. Last month I went on a business retreat with other successful entrepreneurs and one of the workshops required us to write about our ambition with the purpose of inspiring others. I noticed many took a process driven approach to the work rather than mounting wonderful arguments around inspiration, change and desire to offer the world ones personal talents. Do people seek process for safety? I suppose structure feels safe, it gives a roadmap, a clear path and a checklist of what ‘good leadership’ should look like. But process without vision becomes mechanistic, it lacks soul. Our world is oversaturated with managerial thinking, where is the inspiration? Am a loan ranger again and just too over optimistic?
Is it because too many people restrict themselves with process, systems and are not able lead by intuition, the heart and what could be. The ability to dream, to inspire, to imagine a better world is not a luxury, it is a necessity. Without imagination, leadership becomes a glorified maintenance job. Are we not dreaming enough to be able to articulate that dream? Are leaders getting too tied up in the weeds rather than delegating the action to others? Yes the ‘how’ is very important and creates credibility for a leader. They must be able to show how they intend to implement their inspiration. But what I am talking about is the inspiration. Maybe one could articulate this as transformative leadership (even that word ‘transformative’ makes me cringe) rooted in authenticity, emotional intelligence with a moral compass and not just KPIs, power, money and status.
I personally want a leader to inspire me, a leader that I can look up to not just because they are successful in their political or business pursuit but because they are good humans doing well for their own families and for the world. How can I look up to a leader that maybe treating their own staff, family or spouses with disregard? I also want a leader that is progressive and moves with the modernisation of our social fabric. Think Ghandi (amazing man but abused his wife), Trump (not so monogamous approach to his marriages and his non progressive views on society) and let’s not even consider all those tech leaders….Eion Musk etc.
We have for too long accepted the idea that one can be a great leader while being an absent parent, a toxic partner or an unethical human behind closed doors. Is my criteria too high or is should this be the new base line we must fight for? A leader who does not compartmentalise values. Who does not show one face to the world and another at home.
Today I asked my AI to create a list of all the leaders in the world that had a successful career and personal life. Very interesting indeed. A good example of AI biases at play. It listed Gandhi, Jeff Bezos to name a few. As we know an AI learns from biased data. My AI has mirrored a world that has not yet made space for those stories of transformational leadership. We need them more than ever.
Is it at all possible to have a women leader who has children and a partner? Think Helen Clark, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey. Where are my role models? Or am I asking too much, again? I think the system makes it excruciatingly difficult for women with families, think about Jacinda Ardern who gave us a rare glimpse of motherhood in office but the pressures pushed her to step down. I am asking for a new story of leadership! Am I asking too much?
One may argue that you do not need to be successful in both your career and personal life to inspire. But not for me, I need both. I want to see my interpretation of good character in both their career and how they treat their loved ones, the vulnerable and how progressive they are in seeing the world. An ethical, heart centred, visionary leader. Argghhh. Why is it so hard to find a leader like that?
Last week a wonderful collaborative group of women formed The peoples select committee. A group of women from all parts of the political system who are trying to restore equity and the upkeep of our legislative system. Yes that is great leadership of many. Maybe the future is less about the single, iconic hero leader and more about constellations of wise, heart led leaders moving in harmony. But the reality is that I still want a leader that fits into my ideal. Where are you???
Till my next monthly musing.
Anna xx
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