The ‘constant leader.'

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting ‘President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’ – that’s the introduction he would have been used to, in times of peace at an awards ceremony or when entering a sizeable cultural gathering. Presently, at a theatre of a different kind, this previously not so well-known politician has found himself catapulted to world attention, delivering courage and direction to his fellow citizens and those who will take notice. As someone wisely commented, beyond causing incalculable harm to human life and property, the Russian Premier’s intolerable action of going to war with Ukraine has not done any good to anybody except for catapulting Zelenskyy to a position many could only dream of in their lifetimes.

An actor, comedian, president, husband, father, and people lover – this man has unwittingly been propelled to a global forum, not for fame or money but for leading the fight for his homeland and people, and no marks for guessing how well he is doing. One would argue that Zelenskyy probably had it in him all along, and it was just a matter of time before his formidable inherent leadership traits had a chance to shine through.

Even leadership crafters, who work behind the scenes for politicians and celebrities, take years if not decades to create such aura and persona without achieving near as much success.

Now, this is one kind of leadership style one could aspire for – humble, influential yet respectful, sticking with his people when they need him the most. Although the Americans offered his family asylum, he politely declined, choosing to stay put in Ukraine, reminding the West time and again of their promise to safeguard his country in the event of external aggression after the fall of the erstwhile USSR.?

His speeches have cut through many hearts, as there is integrity, and genuineness in those words, in contrast to the gas-filled substance-less political blaring one is typically used to.

Ukraine may eventually fall, but the many stories showcasing the fighting spirit of its leader will indeed find their way into history and leadership books in time. This possibly offers little by way of comfort to those who are struggling on the ground today, thanks to the apathy and hand-clapping-no-intervention onlooker attitude of its closest allies.

When you have a leader who says that he is staying put in a country constantly bombarded with artillery fire, that sure offers significant comfort and encouragement to his men, unlike his adversary.

Hearing stories of Russian forces being confused and refusing to fight is partly attributable to their confidence in those leading them. The Russians are there to conquer while the Ukrainians are fighting to survive – a big difference, the former has little by way of motivation, but the latter will do everything in their power to safeguard their homeland.

The downside of conflict is, of course – no one wins. This was echoed by the German Philosopher Hegel when he said - “the only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history”.

Moving away from the rights and wrongs whilst hoping for a speedy resolution to the current conflict - one gets a spectacle of human kindness and leadership traits on display, including empathy, persuasive communication skills, compassion, empowerment, and visibility. Of particular note, the little things matter the most – respect, being readily accessible, an act of kindness or even a few choice words of encouragement. When these are used for the betterment of society, mankind flourishes. The opposite, of course, is a recipe for disaster.

Source: BBC, Sky News, Economist, Guardian