On leadership character and feet of clay

Some weeks ago I caught up with a very good friend. He is actually more than a friend. Not only is he older than me by some years, he is also like a big brother to me - literally. Our families go back many decades together.

Until a few years ago he worked in government in a very senior role, and it was towards the end of his time there that I also began to appreciate his integrity. As a big brother, I almost always assumed it and therefore took it for granted. But with me being the editor of Business Day and having the opportunity to influence national events, our conversations were usually far deeper than the things we spoke about. They often related to issues of grave national importance, and how in our respective roles we could delay the onset of national ruin.

I had taken the Business Day job precisely because I thought I could serve a national purpose in a very difficult time. I was also fortunate to work with colleagues who often wanted to do the same, too. Separately, and that is my friend and I, and my colleagues, and many others in the public service and private sector, we took many risks in our respective roles.

There were times I feared for his life. There were times I feared for mine. There were also times when I feared for others far more than I feared for his or mine. But we all carried on, united by a common purpose. As an editor I had the opportunity to meet lots of people like my friend. Public servants. Good, salt of the earth people who just wanted to serve this country and its people, and for a fraction of what people who do far less get paid in the private sector.

Back to my recent encounter with my friend: we reflected on the past decade in light of what is coming out in various inquiries and wondered why it is that so few people were willing to stand up for the right thing. I thought it is because there are three kinds of people:

There is a minority that is predisposed to evil. They may be greedy, cunning, scheming, narcissistic and sometimes psycopathic but they are destructive. They are amoral and will do anything to get ahead including hurting colleagues, friends, institutions and the entire country. When they are sufficiently influential, they may even hurt the world.

Then there is the majority who will do the right thing as long as their leader is predisposed towards doing the same. But when they work for one of the people described in the paragraph before this one, they will assimilate them, too. They will scheme, undermine, lie or aid and abet in any of the destructive behaviours that are the bane of society.

Finally there is another minority of people who will stand for what is right, and go to great lengths to hold the line they believe is right. Often they will rely on the unpredictable support of the ambivalent majority, the eloquent excuse-makers who will find all sorts of creative words to convince their fellow majority why evil isn't so evil, or wrong isn't so wrong. This is why the path chosen by this minority is so dangerous. The people on whose outrage and support they rely upon often have feet of clay, for many reasons.

Generally it is because people are vulnerable and afraid of losing their income and the ability to support their families. Others worry about losing status and access to nice things or invites to powerful circles where they may get an opportunity to project proximity to power they never really have.

Over the last few months I have been wondering how consistent I am in forever trying to boldly do the right thing. Am I also constrained by fear? Am I a prisoner to the comforts that come with conformity and offending no one? Can we ever really have the society we think we deserve when we don't speak truth to power, and mobilise the ambivalent towards action? I don't think so.

It was Cornel West who said: "If your success is defined as being well adjusted to injustice, and well adapted to indifference, then we don't want successful leaders. We want great leaders - who love the people enough and respect the people enough to be unsought, unbound, unafraid and unintimidated to tell the truth."

Personally, I believe there is no price too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself and your destiny. I believe that as leaders we do more for the people we lead than we can ever imagine when we are unafraid and authentic, and willing to pay the price. It is the only way to earn the respect leaders think comes with title.

My friend inspired me that way.

Have a great weekend and year ahead.