Leadership Turn

Blair’s Radical Mindset is a Traditional Leadership Trait

by Milo Riano on July 31st, 2006

A series of Tony Blair’s unconventional decisions brought about attacks from different sectors strayed by their traditional British beliefs and practices. Though Tony believes that he was not being radical enough in a fast-changing world.

He says that: In these times, caution is error; to hesitate is to lose; yet many of these decisions are acutely, finely balanced.

In an excerpt of the story found here:

“Basic values, attitudes to the positive role of government, social objectives - these still do divide along familiar party lines,” he told the media executives at Pebble Beach.

“But on policy the cross-dressing is rampant and is a feature of modern politics that will stay. The era of tribal political leadership is over.”

“Much of the opposition came from those normally to the right of me who thought it a breach of our traditional British civil liberties,” he said.

“I am attacked from the left for introducing market mechanisms into the NHS. But for me it is an issue of equality. Patient choice should not be restricted only to those who can afford to pay for their health care.

“The response to globalisation can be free trade, open markets, investment in the means of competition: education, science, technology,” he said.

“Or it can be protectionism, tariffs, tight labour market regulation, resistance to foreign takeovers.”

He said every country was “riven” with debates about migration - whether to treat it as an infusion of new blood and ideas or as a threat to national identity.

What’s new? Normally leaders are viewed as radical people but the truth is they often times see things in a different light which guides them in their decisions. However, the mass as expected, would always question the wisdom until positive results are seen. If the opposite happens, the leader would be cursed for all eternity.

I admire leaders who have the courage to stand by their decisions no matter what. Though sometimes, they also have to listen; but the most important thing is that the leader has weighed all options, heard everyone’s opinions and argument before he makes the decision based on his best judgment.

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