What defines a leader, especially in politics? Leadership guru Paul Bridle outlines what characteristics the public will be looking for in the next election.
People look for a strong sense of purpose or direction, a consistent set of values, the ability to relate to people, a willingness to surround themselves with good people and a level of determination that shows that they can deal with issues in a decisive and pragmatic manner.
Think about these qualities and you understand why Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair captured the nation’s imagination. David Cameron is in danger of being elected not because he has these qualities but because Gordon Brown doesn't.
In 1979 the nation voted in Margaret Thatcher with a mandate to reverse the UK's economic decline. Her political philosophy and economic policies emphasised reduced state intervention, free markets, entrepreneurialism and the selling off of state-owned companies. In 1997 the nation voted in Tony Blair as the voice of the new centre ground in politics. In both cases the candidates had strong convictions and focus. Love them or hate them now, at the time both people were seen as having answers to the nation’s problems and the strength to deal with it.
David Cameron certainly looks fresh and speaks well. However, he is struggling to define what the Tories stand for and in particular what David Cameron stands for.
"The recent MP expenses debacle has shown that he can have a strong set of values and come down strongly on the right thing to do, but that is not enough."Although David Cameron has done his best to outline something meaningful, he has yet to inspire the common person on the street. The recent MP expenses debacle has shown that he can have a strong set of values and come down strongly on the right thing to do, but that is not enough. He can’t use the Obama 'Change' or 'Yes we can' mantra, but he needs something that gives people a sense of who he is and what type of leader he will be. Blair used 'New Labour' to position himself but Cameron has not found a way to contextualise himself and his party in a way that inspires the people.
Of equal importance, David Cameron hasn’t really shown that he can relate to people at all levels yet. Many still see him as an Eton and Oxford graduate who cannot relate to the person on the street. Of course, he has an advantage here as Gordon Brown is seen as not relating to the man on the street either, giving David Cameron an edge.
Willingness to learn and being prepared to listen are fundamental qualities to a successful leader, especially in the modern technological world. Cameron has a definite advantage here as Brown is coming over as a 'know it all' who knows everything that needs to be done. One excellent approach Cameron is adopting is a willingness to surround himself with good people that are capable and especially those that have strengths in his areas of weakness. He has not been as effective as Obama in making this a virtue yet, but this is certainly an area that could help him if he managed it better.
Decisiveness? People realise that they are not only voting for someone with a direction or a vision of the future, people want to feel that this person will make the right decisions at the moments when they arrive. There has been flashes of this from David Cameron but unfortunately his opponent leading the Labour Party has made 'decisiveness' appear irrational. Cameron needs to find a way of showing he can be decisive without appearing as though he is making decisions on a whim or, even worse, for decisiveness sake.
As the nation suffers with the painful results of life under Gordon Brown and the emergence of Old Labour policies, the nation is looking for a beacon of hope, a man or woman that relates to the people on the street whilst being able to take a position on the world stage. People want someone who is prepared to listen, who knows the real issues and produces results. David Cameron’s biggest advantage is that he is not Gordon Brown, but that is not enough. People want and are crying out for leadership. They see Obama in America and wish we had that strength of character, conviction and ability to relate to people.
Of course politics is a dirty business and the truth is that Cameron cannot show his hand too early. He knows only too well that doing so will give the opposition a possible advantage. He needs to choose his moments. In reality we are likely to get to see how good a Leader he can be in the last weeks running up to the election. At that stage we may well look back and realise what a great strategy he had.
There is no doubt that David Cameron has the ability to lead. He has managed to put some discipline into the Tory party at long last and he has certainly been relatively good at being an opposition leader to the Government. Both of these are not easy tasks to do and many others have failed before him. However, his final test will be whether he wrestles control of the country from Labour and takes his place as leader of the country or whether he ends up being leader of the country because he is the best of what is on offer.
Paul Bridle is a leadership methodologist, world renowned speaker and managing director of Bridle International.
