Public Leadership and Decision Making
Each time we mention the phrase “Public Leadership”, we are referring to what leaders do with others; for others; and to others in the public space. There are different domains of public leadership, which includes corporate leadership, religious leadership, educational leadership, political leadership, and more. Each of these domains of public leadership has different slants in its art and act of administration or demonstration.
Though each of these domains are very important, the most potent and most pervasive of them all is political leadership. Until you understand this, you will not be able to factor why some people who are wealthy, by way of economic and material acquisitions, still struggle to lay hold on political power. Take note that political power is the most potent power is the public space. That is why, political power should not be given away arbitrarily to anyone or persons who do not have the moral character and requisite compassion to handle it. Capacity and competence are good, but they cannot be compared to moral character and compassion. These two are what determines how a leader applies capacity and competence to political leadership.
“Every nation becomes great or poor depending on the quality of it’s political leadership. The quest for responsible and responsive political leadership should be the single most important matter of public concern for any nation” (‘The Quest for Political Leadership & Citizens Democracy’, Joseph Ibekwe, 2018, Pg.42)
When we talk about “quality leadership”, we are actually referring to those leaders that posses a high dose of the three critical aspects of leadership which are, leadership skills, leadership values and leadership characteristics. These three combine to accentuate the effectiveness of a leader, any leader for that matter.
Because leadership is both an act and an art, the most critical art of leadership is decision making. Leaders that want to succeed at their job must become adept in decision making. No guesses, no arbitrariness, but deliberate and calculative.
In making decisions, a leader must ask four key questions and provide clear answers to them.
What do you want to do? You should be specific on exactly what you want to do.
How do you want to do it? There are lots of other questions around the “how” of what a leader seeks to do. Depth of thinking must be exercised as you explore the “how”, which is about reviewing different options.
Why do you really want to do this? This is about purpose and interest. What is the purpose of this and whose interest is going to protected or affected if you ahead to do what you seek to do? Self-serving purposes often undermine the “how” of what is to be done.
What are the implications or consequences of executing this project the way it is being considered to be executed? There are cost implications, implications on people’s life and livelihood, people’s safety and well-being, their prosperity and happiness; and much more. The consideration of implications are often much more weightier than the project upon which decisions are to be made.
Once a leader has gone through the decision-making processes and has gotten his grips on the matter, there are still other things to do. There are other issues to consider.
How do you announce the decision to the people? When do you announce it? What measures have you put in place to mitigate the identified negative consequences of the decision on the different segments of the people?Whatever a leader does has consequences. Real Transformative leaders are too conscious of the consequences of their decisions on the people; therefore, they take proactive measures to mitigate and assuage those inevitable consequences. This is where the compassion aspect of the leader comes to show. Compassion is not a mere word, it is demonstrated in how a leader does things. Leadership must think act to mitigate consequences.
Leadership is not merely a demonstration of courage and brazenness in decision making and actions, but also more about understanding consequences of courageous decisions and actions; and being able to provide mitigations.
The fundamental humane purpose of public leadership is to guide people along the convoluted path to a better life, through tact, wisdom, patience, and compassion.
The impact measurement of public leadership is on the extent the peoples quality of life is elevated, not just on how courageous the leader was in decision making.
A tactless leader will destroy the lives of more people in the quest to demonstrate leadership. This is leadership in reverse order.
In the end, public leadership is about peoples well-being, not about how terribly the people must suffer in order to enjoy good life. You could become inducted into public leadership. Start your journey here
Dr. Joseph C. Ibekwe
President/CEO
FLED Institute
Abuja