LEADERSHIP FAILURE

Mar 17, 2018 Editorial, Features / Columnists

In Guyana, we have a very serious problem with political leadership at all levels of the society. Most of our leaders are arrogant, untrustworthy, inefficient and corrupt and more often than not, they behave and act like dictators. Many lack the skill-set required for good governance, accountability and problem solving—qualities that are, for the most part, not endemic in our political culture.
Since the attainment of political independence in May 1966, successive political parties, namely the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) have in their own respective ways perfected the art of practicing divisive politics in order to win elections. Both parties have created a permanent divide among the people along racial lines. But regrettably, they have both failed so far to provide effective governance and despite a marked decrease in political violence over the years, the country is still racially divided. The economy is struggling and efforts to develop and diversify it have not materialized.
The declared mission of our founding leaders was the acquisition of political independence which has been accomplished, therefore the mission of succeeding generations was to attain economic independence. However, based on the state of the economy today, it is fair to say that the unanimous grade for this generation is an “F.” Sadly, no leader or party has so far been able to say with certitude that they have succeeded in developing and diversifying the economy. If the economy is to make a quantum leap, our leaders must change the way they conduct politics and manage the economy. After more than 50 years of independence, that mission has not been accomplished.
The failure to expand and diversify the economy has resulted in recurring problems of persistent poverty, particularly among the poor and the lower working class, comprising mostly single mothers and their children. It has also resulted in high levels of crime, indiscipline, corruption, lawlessness and a general sense of hopelessness among youths. In this context, our political leadership has been transactional, rather than transformative—a term coined by the American sociologist James V Downton to illustrate a marked difference between poor to average and excellent leadership.
Transactional leadership focuses on supervision, organization, and performance. It is a peculiar style of leadership in which leaders promote compliance through both rewards and punishments. Transactional leaders do not make changes, they tend to maintain the status quo. This type of leadership is effective in crisis and emergency situations, as well as for projects that need to be carried out in a specific way.
Transformative leadership is one in which leaders lead by example. Transformative leaders are excellent at communicating new ideas, good at balancing short-term and long-term goals, adept at building strong coalitions and establishing mutual trust. Most importantly, they have integrity, are highly intelligent, and they empathize with others.
Transformative leaders tend to use rapport or inspiration to engage followers. They are sincere, honest, accountable, transparent, courageous and confident and are willing to make sacrifices for the greater good of society. They have a mindset to streamline things that no longer work and would change existing thoughts, techniques and goals for better results and the greater good. Transformative leaders motivate workers and maximize their capability and capacity in order to make them productive and decent citizens.
Transformative leaders are needed to develop the economy, improve the living standards of the masses and make Guyana a truly prosperous nation and not one that is embedded in a culture of corruption, crime and dependency. Our current leaders are led, they do not lead. Regardless of their partisan ilk, they should revisit the life and work of those who had the foresight to admonish us about achieving economic independence.

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