The UK needs a true leader now more than ever
It has taken a very unique set events made up of years of decisions that resulted in the UK exiting the European Union. In the aftermath people are starting to take a breath and think about not just why we are here, but what we should be doing next. I am no politician nor an expert in running a country but the one thing I do think, is that the UK is in a unique position. We will not get an opportunity to reinvent our country like this again. We need to grab it with both hands, move with pace and conviction. To do that I believe we need to consider two key things:
- Who is the true leader to take us forwards under a uniting purpose
- How will change how the country is run given the technology available to us and how connected we are
The country is crying out of change and a uniting purpose. As a business owner I have a very particular view on leadership. I have to be honest in my lifetime I don’t think I have seen a genuine leader in charge of the UK.
What is leadership?
The best definition of leadership that I know of is outlined below;
establishing a clear vision,
sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly,
providing the information, knowledge and methods to realise that vision, and
coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders.
A leader steps up in times of crisis, and is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations.
When you deconstruct the above it is easy to see why we are we are. We haven’t had a vision in decades. The information and knowledge is often lies and attached to personal agendas. No-one truly acts on behalf of the nation, certainly with any passion (when was the last time you saw a genuinely awe-inspiring speech that gave you goosebumps from a UK leader?). Applying the above to running our country is going to require an amazing character, one that will drive change and stand up for a uniting vision.
Unfortunately, everyone that has put their name in the hat to lead our country doesn’t have any of the characteristics outlined above (in my opinion, based on very minimal information). They feel more concerned with their own agendas and that of their “party” rather than showing the people of the UK how they intend to lead us.
This very recent TED talk I think highlights the task at hand for any of our next leaders, well worth 20 mins of your time:
Creating change
You only have to watch / follow politics for a short period of time to realise quite how in the dark ages it really is. Not just politics but how the government tries to run the country. The pace it moves at, the protocols in place and how it connects with the country is not designed for the way the world actually is. As a race we have evolved, we are more connected than ever before and technology is progressing at a rate than is almost impossible to keep up with. A connected and empowered citizen will be a huge consideration for future leaders of the country and that is exactly what we have 64million+ of them. I think the whole government should be looking at how it simplifies, connects and speeds up its ability to create change and move things forwards. This will require drastic changes and mean a lot of the old guard will need to step down and let the younger, more passionate and connected help in making our country great.
This TED talk reminded me of how fast the world is changing, how technology and connectivity are building stronger communities and taking the whole world in a remarkable direction. Some extremely important trends in this video for any leader of any country.
Here’s to hoping that the next Prime Minister has the skills and qualities our great nation desperately needs…