Listening Character and Political Leadership. How does Abbott Stack up?

Listening Character and Political Leadership. How does Abbott Stack up?

By johnlord2013 on March 22, 2014 • 

It is probably fair to say that you cannot be a good leader without character. Character is the defining point of leadership.

Character is a combination of traits that etch the outlines of a life,
governing moral choices and infusing personal and professional conduct.
It’s an elusive thing, easily cloaked or submerged by the theatrics of
politics. But unexpected moments can sometimes reveal the fibres from
which it is woven.


There are many examples of leaders without character. Hitler, Stalin, Nixon etc.


In the recipe of what makes a good leader there are many ingredients.
Self-awareness is one. The innate ability to know who you are and what
your capabilities and limitations are. The need to have the aptitude to
motivate people with your vision. Often the art of leadership is the
ability to bring those otherwise opposed to your view, to accept it. It
is also about delegation, empathy and understanding. It can also require
from time to time the making of unpopular decisions. Decisions like
going to war. However when they consistently imply the leaders own
morality and spiritual beliefs they are more akin to autocracy.


Most leaders want to be popular but some will forgo it for power.
Getting things done for the common good is also a fine quality of an
excellent leader. Another important feature of leadership is the ability
is to be able to change ones mind when circumstances change. And the
skill to explain why after listening to the views of others.


To break a promise or change ones mind in order to serve the common
good should be viewed as courageous leadership rather than a sign of
weakness. Having the grace to say I was wrong is another quality rarely
seen.


The one characteristic often missed in the recipe of exceptional leadership is the ability to listen.


Unexpected moments do arise. There have been a few recently. Take for
example Tony Abbotts impromptu confrontation with some school students
from Gosford High School that demonstrated the Prime Ministers absence
of leadership. In fact his lack of leadership skills was deeply
disturbing. To the point that it demonstrated how hopelessly out of
touch he is with thinking young minds. Rather than taking the
opportunity to engage, listen and learn about the
attitudes of the young he choose to inflict government policy on them.
Even when it became apparent that he was on the wrong side of their
feelings on social justice he ploughed on like a dictatorial
condescending fool. The whole scene had a surreal cringe factor to it.


You can view it here.


Compare the stark difference to his confrontational style with the approach I took with a group of High School students. The difference was that I listened and
found that whilst these young people might not know the finer
machinations of politics they certainly had a handle on the policies.
Abbott’s approach was to say


‘’ask me a blokes question’’


Another example was the unlistening attitudes of the
Government and the mainstream media with regard to the March in March
rallies. Abbott dismissed them with his customary flippant arrogance
with an oblique reference to St Patricks Day. The media who generally
think they determine what people should think couldn’t work out what it
was all the fuss was about. Like Abbott their ears were also closed with
the blind unlistening attitude of government.


That’s what the rallies were about. They were protesting that the government wasn’t listening.
Yes they had won the election but they didn’t have a license to treat
the people with contempt. There may have been many issues but it was
primarily a protest about dictatorial leadership, government by
privilege and the lying that goes with it. The Government and the media
didn’t hear because they weren’t listening to the people.


There are many areas of policy where the leader of this nation isn’t listening. He most certainly isn’t listening
to the world’s best climate scientists. He certainly isn’t listening to
economic experts who say that his direct action plan will do nothing to
limit climate emissions. He certainly isn’t listening to economists and those people who say that his PPL scheme is unaffordable.


It is also the case that the Prime Minister refuses to listen to a majority of Australian citizens in favor of sexual equality and gay marriage.


Alan kohler said this of the scrapping of legislation to make Financial Advisers more accountable.

“There is something very inconsistent about holding a
Royal Commission into union corruption while legislating to allow the
return of corruption in financial advice.”

Tony hasn’t listened.


There are many examples of Abbott not listening. The list is a long one.


I’m not sure just what percentage listening plays in
the qualities and character of a good leader. I am convinced though
that it is a major and necessary one if the common good is to be served.


The only person the Prime Minister appears to be listening too is himself. If there are others they are not of independent thought. We have a leader of characterless, self-righteous unlistening qualities intent on imposing on the Australian people his own moral view of the world and a political ideology that shapes it.


He was not elected to do so. That is what March in March was all about.