Lloyd Goodleigh, Guest Columnist
"WE ARE lions led by donkeys." That refrain was often repeated by the British line-soldiers in World War I. It was in response to a military strategy formulated by the British General staff; one that called for frontal assaults on fortified German positions resulting in massive casualties among British troops.
The refrain captured the ongoing debate as to what are the desirable traits that are necessary for effective leaders and followers.
In Jamaica this debate has intensified as we grope our way to building a nation. There is much finger-pointing, as the leaders blame the followers and the followers blame the leaders.
Psychologist Warren Bennis in the mid-1980s sought to identify the core traits for effective leadership. He studied 19 top executives in the public and private sectors in the United States. "Effective leaders share traits that elevate them above the majority of managers."
EFFECTIVE LEADERS
What he found was that effective leaders had a compelling vision or dream about their work. They knew precisely what they wanted to be done, and they were very results-oriented. These leaders were more interested in doing the right thing rather than doing things right. They were very aware of their strengths and weaknesses. By their style of leadership those who worked with them felt significant and empowered. As a group these individuals were found to be excellent communicators that imparted their ideas in a manner that everyone understood. Failure was not something that they contemplated and they regarded a false step as a learning opportunity.
Bennis found that as a group they were persistent and committed and showed a willingness to stay the course.
CORE TRAITS
For the purpose of this column let us accept his identification of the core traits that are necessary for effective leaders. What about the followers? In my view the clearest exposition on this matter, is Thucydides the historian: who, in writing on the history of the Pelo-ponnesian War reported on a dialogue on the matter. The dialogue sought to identify those traits that made the ordinary Athenian citizens different from the citizens of neighbouring states and also made Athens a highly successful city-state. Athenians, it was argued, were addicted to innovation, they were adventurous and daring in their judgments.
Promptitude was a way of life with them. As a people they were always seeking to extend their acquisitions. They were very patriotic and offered their bodies and their intellect in their city's cause. Any scheme that was planned and remain unexecuted, they regarded as a positive loss, and even when a scheme was successfully completed, they regarded as a comparative failure. They were not easily daunted and toiled on, in trouble and danger. They were born into the world to take no rest for themselves and they gave none to others.
In the Jamaican context what are you leader or follower? What are your core traits? Because in the final analysis the British line-soldier was right. Donkeys cannot lead lions. And even lions have difficulties leading donkeys. But traditionally, donkeys lead donkeys and lions have no trouble leading their pride of lions.
Maybe we all ought to evaluate our core traits before we play the finger-pointing game. Because if we are to survive with dignity and advance our well-being in a highly competitive world we all need to be lions.
Lloyd Goodleigh is general secretary of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU). Email: jctu@cwjamaica.com
