A primary leadership issue of today

A primary leadership issue today is lack of a clearly defined, consistent and holistic value system.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Whether in governments, corporations, institutes of learning, communities or families, labels divide thought and inhibit critical reasoning. Pejoratives, such as, capitalism, socialism, conservatism and liberalism, are used as weapons in combative argument as finite and well understood concepts without regard to nuances.

In the cognitive process of decision making, problem analysis precedes a final choice. Problem analysis involves evaluating evidence against a set of basic beliefs, ideology, principles and goals – in other words, a value system. Unless a value system is first established and recognized, problem analysis can be faulty, and decision making inconsistent.

PROBLEM ANALYSIS THROUGH EXAMPLES

Issue: “Full inclusion” of special needs children into the mainstream education system?

The answer, difficult as it is, begins to unfold depending on whether one’s value system is “greatest good for the greatest number” or “maximum individual rights regardless of greater good”. It should not be: “Lucy is such a sweet kid; she deserves the best.”

Issue: Free health care for those who cannot afford it?

The answer depends on whether one’s value system (a) supports free handouts for humane reasons, (b) holds individuals accountable under all circumstances for the choices they make, or (c) seeks economic expediency for collective good. It should not be: “Oh, those poor people! Who will look after them if the government doesn’t?”

Issue: Greater regulation of the finance industry?

The answer depends on whether or not one’s value system is one of unbridled capitalism where market forces reign supreme within ethical standards. It should not be “Today’s corporate leaders are greedy and need to be regulated.”

If one were to support full inclusion (hence, “individual rights”), would it be inconsistent to support free health care for the reason of “collective good” or support greater regulation of the finance industry that would curb the rights of corporate entities?

The objective of this essay is not to examine the above complex issues but merely to highlight the fact that if we engage with issues without reference to a uniform value system, inconsistencies are likely to occur.

THE QUESTION OF INTEGRITY

Today people take positions on issues without first recognizing the value system, because today’s leaders often do exactly that. This leads to inconsistent positions and ultimate lack of integrity across issues.

Integrity is one of the foremost qualities of leadership. This essay suggests that integrity in a leadership role demands first and foremost the establishment and the recognition of a reference value system.

The Audacity of the Peace Prize

The United States is -- like it or not -- thrust into the position of world leadership by its political, economic, scientific, technological, democratic and military might.

The leadership comes with the duty to lead.

9/11 gave the U.S. an unprecedented opportunity to lead the world against terrorism, but the U.S. squandered that opportunity with the foolhardy misadventure into Iraq and from then on, has led the world down the path of more conflict, less communication, greater arrogance, less tolerance and less peace.

President Obama halted the slide and reversed the process with open communication, less conflict, more understanding, some humility and a LOT OF HOPE.

Has Obama achieved World Peace? Signed any major peace accord? No.

Has his presence and actions (words?) greatly raised the hope and expectation of peace worldwide? Yes.

In fact, although he is yet to achieve quantifiable results, he has electrified the world outside the U.S. (I travel internationally; speak to people from various countries; and am writing this from India right now.)

In a world that has seen such escalation of strife, division, conflict and war in the past 8 years, Obama has brought a significant change to the world spirit and definitely reversed the trend towards Peace.

The Nobel Foundation has shown courage and vision in using the Peace Prize in recognizing this change, and -- as a result -- has actually used the prize as an instrument of peace augmentation.

Kudos to the Nobel committee for their decision.

Obama has set the tone for a secular nation

I grew up in India, a country that is deeply steeped in religion and spiritualism, and yet it is a country that promotes itself as a secular nation where people of all religions and faith can happily co-exist.

In the United States, surprisingly, the word "secular" is often equated with "atheist". Yet that is farthest from the truth.

Secularism promotes freedom to practice any religion, or NOT practice a religion, if one so wishes. And, secularism promotes total separation of religion and state.

When Obama said in his inaugural speech that "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers", it resonated deeply with me. I think it portends very well for the future direction of the country. The United States is the epitome of freedom in many ways. Yet of late we were witnessing a ridiculous and mindless trend in the name of being "politically correct" where everyone was so scared to refer to any religion for fear of offending someone or the other. I think the height of this was the effort to take Christ out of Christmas and call it by the generic name of "the Holiday Season". "Seasons Greetings" became more in vogue than the plain and simple "Merry Christmas".

Coming from a secular nation, I found it quite illogical. What's wrong in greeting a Christian on a christian holiday, a Muslim on a muslim holiday, a Jew of a jewish holiday and a Hindu on a hindu holiday?

Obama's reference to the "non believers" is a happy turn towards sanity and acknowledgment of our religious diversity and secular freedom.

Way to go, Obama.

*****

My friend Mike Schoeffler had this comment (via Facebook):

America has always struck a balance between the deep religiosity of her people and the freedom to worship as desired. While these characteristics appear superficially opposed, they actually reinforce each other. Religion grows in the absence of coercion and freedom (often) grows when protected by religious people. 

Your attention to this balance is striking - the similarity with India isn't often discussed. This common religiosity/freedom is one of the strongest reasons for the depth of the US-Israeli alliance. This factor may also explain some of the loosening of bonds with Europe.

This factor may point to an ever stronger alliance with India. History will record President Bush's outreach to India as one of the highlights of his foreign policy. Let's hope President Obama will enhance our relationship with the world's largest democracy.