The Devastating Effects of Careless Leadership

I didn't pick up this book expecting it to ignite such profound reflection on my own leadership style.

But in the very early pages of Gardner Thompson's Legacy of Empire: Britain, Zionism and the Creation of Israel, I came across this passage:

"Especially remarkable is the uncharacteristic ineptitude of decision-makers in the British government in the aftermath of the First World War: in respect to Palestine (their knowledge of which was largely biblical), and in respect to Zionism, too (their knowledge of which was minimal). Policy initiatives were not thought through. In some respects, the imperial attitude to Palestine was unexceptional."

As a British person, it was important for me to learn about Britain's role in the creation of Israel and therefore the genocide of Palestinian people.

I opened the book expecting to learn of very intentional, systematic, purposeful colonial strategies. Of course, the same underlying values and ideologies drove British imperialism in Palestine as they did across Africa, Asia and the Americas. A disregard of the people and land, a racist and Eurocentric view of non-Western cultures, a capitalist-driven desire for expansion and exploitation for profit, an imperialist vision of assimilation, a white supremacist narrative of entitlement.

British imperialism has and continues to be so violent and devastating because of its ruthless strategic nature. It is a process with no room for humanity that is easily orchestrated by those who hold the power to direct and influence people and systems at their will.

British colonial policies were (are) often ruthless and exploitative, driven by a relentless pursuit of economic gain, strategic dominance and administrative control.

But what struck me about Thompson's framing of Britain's involvement in the colonization of Palestine is how inconsequentially contemporary Prime Minister David Lloyd George viewed his decisions.

One of David Lloyd George's predecessors, Arthur Balfour, promised the land of Palestine to the leader of the British Jewish community, in a letter in during the first World War. It goes without saying that he had no legal, moral or ethical right to do so, but did anyway and Britain continued to facilitate this process. There are various historical interpretations of the motives behind this - from an antisemitic desire to move Jewish folks out of Europe to a desire to maintain access to the Suez Canal. Ultimately, there is little evidence for genuine sympathy for the Jewish people, but rather larger political strategies from the West.

Thinking about leadership in the modern day, whether in politics or in the workplace, we often think about decision-making and its consequences. Rarely, do we think about the lack of decision-making - the passive choices we make, or ideas we align ourselves with through small actions.

I find it imperative to reflect on how decisions we make (or don't) when we are uninformed, ignorant, influenced by bias or simply disengaged can be just as destructive as decisions made with intentional malice.

The adoption of Zionism by Lloyd George and his contemporaries was marked by capriciousness and recklessness. The British decision-makers had an ignorant and simplistic understanding of Palestine, often rooted in biblical fantasies rather than reality, and a superficial knowledge of Zionism.

Their decisions, driven by ideological whims and political expediency, disregarded the dissent from Palestinians on the ground, and the basic impracticalities of offering a home to Jewish folks where there simply wasn't room.

Where the misuse of power for control and exploitation is intentional, and where it is careless and inept, the result is the same. To this end, leaders with good intentions must remain vigilant. None of us want to think of ourselves as aligned with colonial strategies but when we hold power, whether over a country or a small team of people, our inaction or thoughtlessness allows for defaulting to the status quo. Where we are not actively choosing anti-racism, equity, intersectionality, decolonization and so on, we are passively choosing white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy and colonialism.

How do we start to change the narrative?

1. Informed decision-making

Leaders should base their decisions on comprehensive, well-researched information, and consider diverse perspectives (through an intersectional lens) to avoid biased or uninformed choices.

2. Honouring Indigenous-led calls for decolonization

Modern leaders should deeply understand and respect the local contexts and cultures where they operate, ensuring that policies and interventions are culturally safe, and informed by calls for reconciliation and decolonization.

3. Long-term thinking

Leaders should prioritize long-term consequences over short-term gains, fostering sustainable and forward-thinking strategies that consider future generations.

4. Ethical Leadership

Many of the actions taken during Lloyd George's tenure were driven by imperialistic and self-serving motives. Ethical leadership should be a cornerstone of modern governance. Leaders must act with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to the greater good, avoiding actions driven by self-interest or ideological rigidity. Leaders should intentionally invest time in scrutinizing their own biases and be prepared to be held accountable.

5. Adaptability and Responsiveness

Lloyd George's stubborn adherence to certain policies, despite their evident impracticality, highlights the dangers of inflexibility. Effective leaders must be adaptable and responsive to changing circumstances, willing to adjust their strategies based on new information and evolving conditions. Most saliently, leaders should be listening to the voices of the most marginalized.

"View the margins as a space of radical openness." - bell hooks

6. Inclusive Policy-Making

Leaders should ensure that policy-making is inclusive, involving all relevant stakeholders, especially those who are directly affected by the decisions.

7. Conflict Resolution Skills

Leaders should develop strong conflict resolution skills, fostering dialogue and negotiation to pre-empt and resolve disputes peacefully.

8. Accountability

Historical leaders often acted without accountability, leading to unchecked power and abuses. Contemporary leaders must be held accountable for their actions, with transparent mechanisms in place to ensure they answer to their people and adhere to ethical standards.

9. Global Perspective

The parochial and empire-centric worldview of Lloyd George and his contemporaries limited their ability to engage constructively with the wider world.

Leaders today should cultivate a global perspective, with a particular disruption of Western-centric narratives and an understanding of demands from the Global South.

10. Empathy and human-centered leadership

Leaders should prioritize empathy and a human-centered approach in their leadership. This involves understanding and addressing the needs, rights, and well-being of all people affected by their decisions, ensuring that policies promote social justice and human dignity.