Values of a person or a group (according to the Collins dictionary), are the moral principles and beliefs that they think are important.
The primaries in our country have just ended and though I am not a fan of politics,I have become an unwilling consumer of the same as all the media is awash with the same. There have been some surprises and other expected outcomes. Some people are raising questions while others are for the outcome(s). That was just an introductory to my post. My main reason of posting this is not to support or oppose any candidate but rather, to help us determine what causes bad leadership and how to avoid it because truth be said, if we have bad leadership then we have a terrible life ahead, whether or not, we supported the leader.
“Our conduct in our daily life rises and falls according to our values” ~ Dr Wale. Leaders are the products of the society they lead. Thomas Jefferson said these words “The government you elect is the one you deserve .”These words are true because leaders are a true reflection of society. So why do people elect leaders then a few months or years down the line, start complaining of the same? The answer is simple: Societal values.
If society doesn’t have the right values, all its members including leaders will reflect this. So it would be correct to say that we have bad leaders who lead to bad leadership because of bad values in our society. If society abets crime, corruption or other vices, defending those accused of these vices, then when leaders get to power, they will propagate the same.
As I conclude, I just have these simple words of advice: If we feel that the leaders we have are not doing the right thing, before we point fingers, let us first examine ourselves and ask what kind of values as a society we have. Could bad leaders simply be a reflection of our own, lack of values and if so, are we ready and willing to bite the bullet, re-examine ourselves and be prepared to change our value systems? Because it is only when we change the values of our society that we can change the leadership mode in society. Let us begin by adopting and practising the same values that we ourselves, would like to see in our leaders. Click HERE to read more posts by Mwangi
