#BTColumn – Let my people go

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Guy Hewitt

Barbados has been blessed with some great leaders, a few good ones and given the law of averages, with some not so good.

Conventional wisdom suggests and polities seem to accept that successful leaders, particularly political, must possess certain egotistical and narcissistic traits in order to survive the rigors of leadership.

This is by no means a criticism. It is unusual for someone to consider that he or she has the capacity to run a country. Furthermore, these characteristics may be seen as necessary to withstand the onslaughts from adversaries and contend with the backstabbing of purported allies.

It is possible that because the role is so challenging and daunting, we often look for the trait of exceptionalism in our leaders. The trade-off, as we seek leaders that are strong, wise and courageous in pursuing the nation’s interests, is that if these competencies are accompanied by an inflated ego, well so be it.

But consider this: is it possible for a successful political leader to possess the opposite psyche? What if repeated attempts to recruit a leader were met with reasons why she or he felt they might not be the right person for the job? Could a leader lacking in ego and narcissism still command the confidence of those that he is meant to lead?

The complexity of leadership is captured in a number of seminal books including Warren Bennis’ classic ‘On Becoming a Leader’ along with: The Art of War, The Leadership Challenge, Good to Great, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Start with Why. Bennis, a pioneer in the leadership field, dispels that “most dangerous leadership myth” that there is a ‘genetic factor’ to leadership. Instead, he asserts, “the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”

For Christians, Holy Scripture is a gift from God to lead us to salvation. However, the Bible can also serve as a manual for earthly living. We can learn much from biblical characters, both their successes and their mistakes. To exemplify how we could apply scripture to living, I want to use this sacred text to look at one of the greatest spiritual and political leaders in human history, Moses.

Had Moses resume been scrutinised by human eyes, he probably wouldn’t have been recruited to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Consider it: born into an underclass, with a stutter and temper, and his main occupation was caring for his father-in-law’s sheep. Yet, he goes on to challenge the world’s most powerful ruler and lead God’s people to freedom.

The Exodus from Egypt was only the start of Moses leadership. His role shifted from being an inspirational, revolutionary leader to leading a reluctant people during their depressing sojourn in the wilderness.

During this period, he acted as institution builder; instructor on values and practices; mediator; and finally, succession planner.

At the heart of all that Moses did was his recognition that leadership was not about self-glorification but serving something greater than self. Proverbs 29:18 tells us “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality but a leader’s willingness to fulfil this vision must be derived from passion and pledge, not position.

It is for this reason that both Harriet Tubman and Grantley Adams were referred to as ‘Moses.’

Andrew Carnegie, the American industrialist turned philanthropist and founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, stated, “No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.”

Perhaps the greatest lesson we can learn from Moses is that true leadership isn’t about the leader but about serving someone and something greater than one’s self.

One of the most admirable qualities about Moses is that, unlike many modern leaders, he was not preoccupied with creating a personal legacy.

There are inherent dangers when a leader tries to shape her or his own legacy while in office. It is akin to driving a car while looking into the rearview mirror – the most likely outcome will be a crash.

Moses erected no monument to himself, named no institution after himself, made no provision for members of his family. Only God knows where his gravesite is.

Moses steadfastly served his people by serving God who called him and to whom he knew he was ultimately accountable.

What a legacy of leadership that he left for us. The Bible includes a fitting epitaph to this political and spiritual leader: “No prophet has risen in Israel like Moses whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deu. 34:10).

May the Lord continue to be our people’s guide and bless us with the leaders that we need.

Guy Hewitt is committed to Barbados. He resides in Florida.