Beware of leaders without vision

Fri Jun 27, 2014

Editor: Anyone can want to lead: that’s quite okay.

If, however, someone wants to lead an enterprise, a group, a movement or anything – and they do not have a clear and adequate vision of where the organization should go – then those with the power to establish them as leaders should eschew them.{{more}}

The holy book says in Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 18 that where there is no vision, the people perish.

An American author, John Maxwell, once said: “a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

Regarded as Britain’s greatest Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once said: “The empires of the future are empires of the mind.”

Many more quotes on leadership can be found, which all indicate that leaders must be doing something; they must be seeing beyond the present.

It is, therefore, no surprise that every great leader in history has done something redounding to the honour of their people. They had a vision, they had a cause, they had a plan and most of them understood the times that they were in and were able to do everything that history allowed them to do.

Ending apartheid in South Africa was Nelson Mandela’s life struggle. Breaking the manacles of racial segregation against blacks in the USA was a clear vision articulated by Martin Luther King Jr.

Joan of Arc was set on turning the tide of a “hundred year war” in the favour of France.

Moses was set on leading the Children of Israel out of the wilderness and the list can go on and on.

On the contrary, we can also look at the leaders who seem to just happen to become leaders. With all due respect, we can look at George W. Bush – can we really say that he had a vision for America? What legacy did he leave on the US?

Look at Adolf Hitler of Germany – does history look well on his legacy?

Look at Bashar al-Assad of Syria; is his obstinacy the cause of an out of control civil war there?

Look at the situation in Haiti today. Can we say that after the reign of Toussaint L’Ouverture Haiti has benefited from visionary leaders?

We can even examine King Herod of biblical times; what did he do for the greater good of the people?

Some of the aforementioned leaders probably had vision – but was it adequate for advancing people?

One can then conclude that no matter how qualified a person is, no matter how charismatic, loving, passionate, decisive or strong they might be – they need the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom.

History has shown us that leaders without vision or without proper vision all left a terrible legacy behind, while those who had a proper vision for the greater good left great legacies behind.

In our local context and where political leadership of the country is concerned, we must, as a people, seek to elect leaders with vision.

Whether it be a chief political leader of a mass political party – or anyone who puts themselves up to run for public office – they must be properly evaluated.

In this regard, here are 10 fundamental questions to ask anyone who is putting themselves up for political leadership of this country:

1. What is your vision for St Vincent and the Grenadines (at least for the next 10 to 25 years), who fits into that vision and how do you plan to realistically achieve that vision?

2. What would you say are the biggest problems facing the country? What do you think are the causes of these problems and how can they adequately be addressed?

3. Do you understand the context of the Vincentian economy?

4. Do you understand the regional and global economy?

5. Is there a difference between austerity and prudence?

6. What have you done for people or your community in general in the last 10 years?

7. Do you understand and can you explain the issues facing youth (who make up more than half of the population)?

8. What are the top five issues facing the Caribbean region, how can they be addressed and how do they affect St Vincent and the Grenadines?

9. What are your thoughts on poverty, social mobility and do you believe in God?

10. What is your political ideology and how can it, in practice, serve to meet the needs of the country – as opposed to another ideology, which is different from yours?

There are many more questions which can be asked – but these are the top 10, in my estimation.

Leadership is very important. It is essential to the success and proper direction of any country.

Don’t get hoodwinked by a quick one! Analyze the situation; take notes, study the personalities, critically evaluate the plans being proposed.

When it comes to vision – if they don’t seem to have it – then they simply don’t cut it.

No proper vision should equal absolutely no vote.

Demion (Black Star)

McTair