Leadership and the Argument for Balance

Recently I came across this quote from Henry Louis Gates, an American professor;

“People are afraid, and when people are afraid, when their pie is shrinking, they look for somebody to hate. They look for somebody to blame. And a real leader speaks to fear and to anxiety and allays those fears, assuages anxiety”.

It would be somewhat narcissistic to assume the responsibility and mantle for so grandiose a social concept. But, from the viewpoint of a board member, the theory holds true for a community/business and our role in it.

It occurs to me that we are suffering from a distinct lack of leadership across the UK right now as politicians seek not to assuage anxiety and fear but to stoke it. Be it wilfully as a Covid management tool, or unconsciously as they struggle to lead the nation meaningfully and practically through the pandemic but also repeated social uproar. These latter phenomena are not coincidental, clearly, but directly correlate to Gates’ observations above.

Without sensible, balanced leadership helping the public to navigate the psychological results of lockdown/Covid, and in so doing taking practical common sense positions (rather than safe conveniences), we undermine the stability of our society at the point it needs cohesion the most. We also miss the opportunity to have otherwise beneficial aspects of social change effected without alienating half of the societal spectrum.

Quiet reasonable discourse finds common good, both sides shouting loudly gets us nowhere. Boards and leaders are well positioned to provide an example of calm measured response.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only. They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice. Before acting on any of the information contained in this blog, please seek specific advice from Gilson Gray.