Listening: Vital Leadership Skill

Listening is one of the most vital skills of leadership. It gives one the opportunity to listen to the true sentiments of the people at the grassroots level. It is here where leaders with vision learn of the frustrations and aspirations of his people. It is here that he begins assessing what needs to be done, weighing issues realistically against local resources. A good leader begins by constantly visiting the troops–his people at the village level–to reassess their needs.

Listening to the voices of his people is a quality trait that made President Abraham Lincoln one of two most famous presidents in the country. He leaves his office to join soldiers at the battle field. He comforts families of those who shed their precious blood for freedom and democracy. He walked small cities to see where things are headed and joins local leadership plan and organize lasting proposals.

Have we done this in the last decade?
If we did, then we may have been listening to our over bloated ego of arrogance and dumbo intransigence. In the process, we fail, in grand fashion, to listen to the voices of our people at the grassroots level. If you still disagree, may I recount several incidents where some thought they were into employing the true definition of leadership.

Policies that we’ve seen pile into our books have at best, fanned the fire of economic contraction, at worse, shrunk job opportunities for hundreds who now look for meaningful employment in either sector. Is this your definition of leadership?–shutting down opportunities in wealth and jobs creation? Did anybody offer economic stimulus packages proactively to mitigate the onslaught of the Asian Crisis? Or was it more a case of ignorance as to specialize in killing more businesses?

Isn’t the primary role of leadership entail instituting measures that enhance the livelihood of the greater majority?

For those who grandly missed the opportunity to enhance the livelihood of our people in years past, the opportunities lost are gone for good and the opportunity to give it another try is equally history! I’m sure you’re now trembling feverishly with the self-inflicted “If I had Known” syndrome quite in abundance in these isles. Imagine if the combined arrogance and ignorance are marketable products from the NMI at the global market. We’d be rich! Unfortunately, we’re very poor because previous legislative leadership has decided to display protectionist arrogance here and abroad.

I often quiz if this apparent setback has anything to do with geography–location of the legislative chambers–on Capital Hill. Gee, they must have been conspiring with strange angels hovering over their offices as to completely neglect their fiduciary duties to enhance the livelihood of the people they represent in our legislative institution.
Frankly, I don’t mind misses if indeed there’s evidence of long thought process involved.
Well, it must instant gratification that they interpret to mean thoughtful ways of spewing out half-cocked legislation.

Imagine if the NMI has its own stock exchange. About 99.9 percent of local stocks would plummet to oblivion from such adolescent attitude in forging half-cocked public policies. Experts who come to employ constructive engagement is often blunted by overblown egos as to make any deliberate discussion futile. Then comes the final blow–more shallow and hollow public policies that have contributed to our economic demise. Hello! Anybody home? Has anybody seen the true definition and essence of leadership? Anybody listening out there? Do we need to dial 911? A` Saina!