Written by Frederica
In the light of recent times and considering the way in which society seems to have become fragmented and dislocated (especially since the Brexit referendum and the following years of division and discord) I have found myself considering the way in which this Country is being ‘led’. The recent Covid debacle has highlighted the fact that ‘leadership’ as we once knew it has somehow been ‘hi-jacked’ by an inimical cabal, intent upon their own supremacy at all costs. The abandonment of previously laid plans for dealing with any such situational Covid – in favour of governance by ‘selective sciences’ – is indicative of leadership in disarray.
I remember strong leadership in Britain but that no longer seems to exist. I recall inspirational CEOs of successful British Companies (Sir John Harvey-Jones – ICI) and strong and resolute leadership in government – whether one agreed with their politics or not! British companies were once protected from overweening foreign influences. Companies were run for long term stability by CEOs who knew their businesses rather than by ‘quick-buck-whiz-kids’ intent on the revolving door rise to fortune.
I recall governments with leaders who knew how to pick teams with experience of the real world. Today the rarefied atmosphere of the University PPE courses (that deal in the ‘closed shop’ theory of politics but not life experience) provides reliable ‘party’ voting fodder. What do such people know of the lives of the people who blindly and tribally elect them to office in the absence of more suitable alternatives! So:
What is Leadership? In my working life I can number three people with whom I was associated who manifested the qualities that I would categorise as ‘Leadership’. The first was an ex-military man. He had been a prisoner of war in a Japanese camp during WWII. He had suffered greatly (as had so many others) during his incarceration. He could very rarely be brought to talk about his experiences in any but the broadest terms. However, it had imbued him with a strong feeling for justice and freedom. He had a strong work ethic and brooked no slacking or sloppy workmanship.
That said, he was fair minded and open handed with his help and advice for those who needed it. At times of extra busy-ness he was always on hand to ensure that no one was genuinely over-burdened without help being offered. He ‘walked the floor’. He was noted for stepping in at such times of busy-ness to take part himself with whatever task was on hand. His motto was “Lead from the front – don’t drive from the rear”. He lived up to that motto in full and was respected even by those who had the tendency to ‘skive off’ if the opportunity arose.
The second of the three was also a ‘grafter’ himself and very skilled at his special expertise. He supported the team by masterminding the framework through which they all operated in their own particular functions. He was fiercely supportive of his people.
The third was a truly inspirational Team Leader. He was forthright, impatient and demanding but he repaid loyalty and hard work with absolute fairness. For those who were able and who wished to do so, he offered opportunities to run with projects of their own. Without overtly breathing down their necks, he allowed them to ‘get on with it’ whilst somehow managing to be aware of their activities. Real effort and successes were acknowledged and rewarded. I recall my time under his leadership with real admiration.
What is the function of a Leader? I see the function of a leader to have the ability to build and motivate a team. To enable and empower it to operate as one cohesive and effective body. The leader must identify and set the objectives for the team that will enable the accomplishment of the overall mission. A leader must also be supportive, provide assistance and training opportunities for those who may have need or who merit the chance to move on and improve their personal prospects.
What does being a Leader actually mean? Being a leader is a fine balancing act between making policy, giving direction and ensuring that the people under direction have the necessary skills and the appropriate tools to allow them to fulfil the functions to which they have been set. Leadership is not a case of issuing decrees and then standing back in the shadows. Leadership means being available to give direction, help and advice along the way when required, to ensure that the task on hand is achieved in the most expeditious way. Leadership also means making certain that credit is given to all who have worked to ensure that objectives are and successes achieved. Surely there can be nothing worse than a ‘Leader’ who ‘drives’ his team and then steps in to take all the credit for the overall result!
What qualities are necessary to make a good Leader? (This list is not exhaustive!) Strength of character and self confidence are a start. But, a good leader must also have integrity. The leader should be collaborative and open to opinion from others (and explain why their suggestions may not be taken up – without demeaning that person) as part of any decision making process. The leader should disseminate the ‘mission’ to the team effectively and clearly and ensure that all are kept informed of progress of any project. A leader should be supportive of team members and, if a hierarchical structure is in place, ensures that all information is cascaded down effectively to the lowest levels. The leader should be inspirational, clear on policy and targets and accept total responsibility: “The buck stops here”!
In consideration of the above, I conclude that Britain has lost the ability to train and nurture good, effective leaders. I can only assume that 40 years in the European Union is largely responsible for the paucity of real talent in Business and in Politics today. Direct governance from the Brussels Empire has emasculated and corrupted those who currently ‘pose’ as leaders.
Those candidates for the top tables of business and government have been turned from learning how to use their potential for the greater good of the Country. Firstly, because of poor education which convinced them that they were being made clever and wise – whilst actually brainwashing them into the European mould of complicity and supplication. Also, the ‘fast track’ routes to seniority that preclude that most-essential training – ‘grass-roots life skills’ – has produced a class whose sense of ’entitlement’; greed for the quick buck; short term gain and arrogance, coupled with the modern obsession with ‘woke’ causes, has diminished Britain almost beyond repair!
Photo by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife 
Leadership. A cry for help. we are looking in the wrong places.lets start with Alexander. His dadwas king. Ideal. Churchill, Even had a posh wife.and relatives. plus a bit of galloping about battlefields. Ideal. Starting from the bottom, ridiculous, Hitler did that and look what he did. Spawned billions of little lefties.Plenty of entitlement Thats the thing. Like Macron (?). Lots of rich and influencial family.
Once you have that, all you need is a slogan, and a friend in the newspaper business.
Cameron would have been good but chose remain. Foolish really, He’ld have made more mileage if he had really upset Brusseld. And opportunities abounded.
So now we have to sift through the new sorry lot.. Possibly the son of an Australian rich rancher ?
Leadership A thankless job. Everybody, and I mean everybody, knows they could do it, or could help. The only person who can help is one who should be in that job , but will not take it. You see every nastyness and goodnesses of people from that place. Only Lucifers Contract holds firm. Feel pity for a trapped Boris and his helpers. How high could you jump.
Please address all enquiries to the ‘Dalai Lama ‘
What qualities are necessary to make a good Leader? (This list is not exhaustive!) Strength of character and self confidence are a start. But, a good leader must also have integrity. The leader should be collaborative and open to opinion from others (and explain why their suggestions may not be taken up – without demeaning that person) as part of any decision making process. The leader should disseminate the ‘mission’ to the team effectively and clearly and ensure that all are kept informed of progress of any project. A leader should be supportive of team members and, if a hierarchical structure is in place, ensures that all information is cascaded down effectively to the lowest levels. The leader should be inspirational, clear on policy and targets and accept total responsibility: “The buck stops here”!
That description excludes all of the present political class as far as I see! Not one of them have integrity.
My Reactions:- First the picture. ‘He’ is probably the Alpha Male pack leader, Wolf. Yet he has been ‘subjected’ to ear tags! That made me shudder. It is not the fault of the Oregon Wildlife Department, just a necessary part of our need to control potentially dangerous animals.
Second Society has become fragmented and dislocated. Yes I suppose it has Frederica and the Brexit Referendum did not so much cause it, rather it brought it to light, I think.
It struck me recently just what a massive undertaking getting free of the E.U. actually was/is. You have pinpointed how 40 years in it has brainwashed potential leaders. I’d say it has thoroughly brainwashed the whole Civil Service, or rather those at the top who direct the Civil Service. They in turn ‘guide’ their political ‘masters’. A bit like the alpha wolf in his ear tags!
Growing up, as I remember it, the country’s leader, the PM, was indeed a Leader. Whether we liked or disliked the policies there was no doubt that he was in charge. You are spot on there Frederica. It is many many years since Britain had such a leader.
And I’m sure you are right in your analysis of how the whole system has been corrupted and undermined.
Enjoyable and thought provoking Frederica – thank you.
The paucity of leadership may not be so much a problem in industry today but in the public sector. The growth of the state, welfarism and career politics may be to blame for that more than membership of the EU. The EU did not ask the British to gold plate EU regs as they so often have done!!!
We have some brilliant industry leaders in small and medium sized private companies and many good ones in PLCs. We would possibly have better ones in PLCs were there a much increased number of active. private shareholders holding executives to account rather than the majority of equity held with institutional shareholders who will sell out British companies for a quick buck. That logic may also apply to improving leadership in governance were there more political activism on the centre right holding the government to account.
Jake Bennett. Your comment has got me very interested. Why exactly is it that so many British Companies have been sold abroad?
Pauline, I would like to know that too. I can only suspect that it has to do with the 40 year tie-in with the EU. Since the majority of our Civil Serpents and politicians seem to be dyed-in-the-wool remainers, they would naturally believe that to have all businesses centrally owned within the EU empire is something to be desired! Thus the ‘revolving door’ opportunities would be significantly increased!
TAX
That’s a big subject that can’t be nailed down in a paragraph or two.
De-industrialisation of UK since 1960s.. Government policy to grow our services economy. Off-shoring of industry. Economic globalisation. No regional banks anymore to support and fund local industry like happens in Germany and other European countries. Proportion of foreign persons/institutions on British company share register at historical high. Private British investors on share register at an historical low. Easier money made selling companies than investing and growing them. City of London thrives on deal making. And that is just a few of the reasons.
Very interesting Jake. Quite a lot to ponder over there! I’ll need some time to think a bit.
Thanks Jake I agree with what you say about the British politicians etc., going overboard and rubber stamping every last clause and sub-clause without being coerced. I suspect that it was done with a view to self-advancement by toadying to the EU in the hope of higher office when the EU grand plan of obliterating all the nation states in favour of ‘regions of the `Empire’ came to fruition!
What really riles me is the way in which so many once great British companies have been swallowed up into large foreign owned conglomerates. Once upon a time there was a monopolies commission to regulate such matters to prevent over-large organisations stifling competition. Once, CEOs and directors would have been more committed to the companies that they ran. Now it seems that they are more open to the quick buck payoff! The news that Virgin Media (Medallia) (that I dont think has been Richard Branson owned for a while) and O2 have been given the go-ahead to merge is worrying. For one thing I think it will mean Telefonica (a Spanish company) will be in the ascendancy and the other thing is that I do not think that it will give any better deals for those customers who find themselves unable to negotiate anything better by playing one company against another – if you see what I mean!
Political activism for the centre right will depend upon there being a ‘flag’ to rally around. At present I do not see one and how to create that is beyond me I’m afraid!
Excellent Frederica. I remember a time when we, as managers, were quite able (and expected) to go “on the tools” and show new employees how to do the job. I am continually astounded at the lack of practicality amongst the more recently educated ones. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about it now but still work on my own various projects…
Jack…I think we came from an era where most Managers worked their way up through the ranks and actually knew something about the work on hand and could empathise with the workforce. There doesn’t seem to be so much of that principle around these days.
Great article Frederica.
You identify, I believe accurately, the EU inspired disease of “ complicity and supplication “
Perhaps I used the wrong word in ‘inspired ‘ maybe engendered might be better
I fortunately EUism has been fed into our children as is mothers milk they have been brought up to regard themselves as “children of the EU” and have imbibed every nuance that implies
It will take years to be rid of it and get it out of the system
Perhaps we may have to import leadership and I would add ambition and enterprise from overseas
Joke – is that we are already doing with our immigration policy?
Thanks Roger. Sadly, I think what we are ‘importing’ via immigration is not potential ‘leaders’ who would be ‘good for Britain’. Neither are they the ‘brain surgeons’ and scientist etc., that the official narrative suggested!!! Rather, the ‘imported’ will turn out to be the ‘troops’ that will finalise the changeover of government and culture from ‘British’ to something completely alien. It is 955 years since William the Conqueror first set foot on British soil and changed the course of this Island’s history. I am full of trepidation when I consider the cataclysmic change in the culture of Britain that is certainly and surely coming down the track like an express train!
Many have tried – and failed – over the years to ‘bring down Britain’. It seems that the EU (courtesy of the cupidity of our own home-grown politicians. I name no names – we all know who they are!) is probably going to be the agency that facilitates the final demise of our ‘Nationhood’ unless there is an 11th hour political ‘Renaissance’ to come riding over the hill!
G.Brock Chisholm. World Health Organisation late 1940s
“To achieve world government, it is necessary to remove from the minds of men their individualism, loyalty to family traditions, national patriotism and religious dogmas…”
A bit more to think over Jake. I’m going to be busy. I had never heard of this guy before. This global govt stuff has been longer in the pipeline than I imagined
Frederica. How I agree with you there. We are NOT importing leaders who would be good for Britain. They are indeed the troops that will change our whole culture.
When did we last have a ‘Leader’ who stopped this happening? There is no excuse now that we are out of the E.U.
Pauline I don’t think that we are actually truly out of the EU. Yes there’s a piece of paper but the tentacles of the EU are still round our throats courtesy of our ‘Remainer-in-spirit’ PM and his ‘minders’!
Oh if only a leader could break through!
An organised and authentic voice for those of us disenfranchised by the monster party. I suspect the ballot box route is now well and truly blocked off.
Oh yes Matt up North….if only indeed. I believe you are very right about the ballot box. The ‘Pigs occupying the farm house’ have learnt how to drive that particular vehicle. The recent travesty that was the USA Presidential ‘election’ is the only illustration we need of the dark forces out to destroy the democratic freedom of the World in favour of renewed tyranny and serfdom!