A Simple Thought – Friday, 19th February 2021

Leadership is hard, harder than I may think

Perhaps the biggest divide that exists, in my opinion, today is the one between leaders and their subjects. I find it much easier to make an opinion seated comfortably on my couch about the blameworthiness of a leader, My thoughts are naturally shaped in part by the relentless opinions of network channels that are pushing a certain agenda. On the other hand, I also find it pretty compelling to find fault in the electorate for their disdain following their inaction and over expectation. Then, I decide to evaluate based on my own environment of micro leadership, when it dawns upon me that this is no child’s play. If I do not have the courage in my heart – both to take hard actions and to suppress my sincerity on many occasions, if I do not have the knack of playing the sport of kingmakers, then I really have no business being in leadership. But wait a minute, how did leaders suddenly become strategists? Advanced leadership, you may shout out. But when I study the life of the glorious Imam Ali (AS), I do not see leadership equalling politicking, I see justice and fairness, ideals that we all hold dear… so long as it tilts towards our inclinations. There are many times when I feel absolutely apprehended by the thought that each moment of my life, I am leading someone or another, and when I fall short as an exemplar or overarch in pomposity, then I stand to be held accountable in His majesty for having caused a travesty of sorts. The codification of modern day leadership is best defined as a mature way of organising the affairs of an organisation, a state or a society grounded in the preamble understanding that the citizenry know less, and should indeed know less. Our leader gave us a very profound spectrum of leadership in which self was servitude to the rest. How I wonder at the greatness of this personality, whereas it seems completely impossible to keep a balance as such. I now know that it is not material to shovel blame, it is a question of understanding leadership from the perspective of the great son of Abu Talib, only then can sufficient sense begin to emerge, in the bigger picture.