Leadership Speech

I am very grateful to YB Dato’S. Veerasingam, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry for National Unity and Social Development and the ministry for being kind enough to organise this leadership-training programme entitled ‘Knowledge Is The Key To Successful Leadership’.

I also wish to thank the leaders of the state and divisional congress who are here today. I hope that this seminar will further enhance your leadership qualities in dealing with the challenges we face today in this modern nation of ours.

Developing the leaders has become an important concern for a variety of reasons and organizations including political organizations, which are dealing with people and their problems. In times of constant change, there is a need for leaders at the top and middle levels of leadership to discern and understand the rising expectations of people and address them appropriately.

I hope this three-day seminar will help to stir your minds to see how to further enhance the leadership qualities needed to ensure individual and organizational leadership growth.

I read with interest the words of Roger Falk who wrote, I quote, “The person who can combine intelligence and humanity with a genuine enthusiasm is likely to be a true leader”. This is a very relevant and timely saying. On reflection of this I would like to draw your attention to a ‘Five Point Checklist on Leadership’ that will draw on the leadership principles of combining intelligence and humanity in serving the nation and community.

1. Balancing Time To Meet Demands
I am aware that as politicians you are also involved in your own careers. In such circumstances you are compelled to divide your time for each of your responsibility. Identifying and aligning your goals with our party’s strategic objectives helps you to determine what you need to achieve. The next step in becoming a valuable leader is to manage your time and resources, which are both often limited in supply by ensuring that the priority tasks and goals are accomplished.

How well are you dividing your time between your career and your political activities? One quick way to find out is to make a list of all your current work activities. Estimate how much time you need to spend in a day, a week and month on each activity and stick to it loyally. In due time this discipline of time will bring good results.

I know many leaders who do not regard time as important, who do not keep time, who do not even keep a diary of activities. They do not jot down on paper as to what are demands on their time. These people will in my opinion fail themselves and their organizations miserably. They will be unable to serve the people and nation efficiently and effectively.

2. Sharpening Communication Skills
Good communication skills are always important in politics and career development. In ‘face to face’ communication whether you are giving or receiving feedback of information, you can note a number of helpful tips for effective communication. When you are giving information begin at first by making sure that the other person is ready to listen. Five other tips are:-

i. Make a determined effort to be specific and clear.
ii. Select the right words and tone of voice.
iii. Check for understanding by asking appropriate questions.
iv. Summarise the conversation to make sure that there is little chance of misinterpretation.
v. Seek an agreement on what action must be taken as a result of the conversation.

3. Develop Productive Relationships
The ability to build relationships today is no longer limited to getting to know the people who can help you climb the political ladder. Political parties need leaders who can work and build close relationships with their members. You must endeavour to work in teams with an emphasis on collaboration and cooperation among members. Developing productive relationships is vital for your success. You must be a team player. Four helpful techniques that can help you in becoming a team player are:-

i. Share information with others who will benefit from what you know.
ii. Compliment others for their hard work.
iii. Help streamline work process by making sure things are moving smoothly from one responsibility to the next.
iv. Share credit for your success with those who help you. It is my duty to remind the state and divisional leaders on their miserable failing in developing team work in the context of the University Building Fund. There was a failure on your part to keep the time frame, failure in effective communication and failure to build productive relationships. Every one was told to organize activities extensively however this was not carried out to our fullest potential and ability. We therefore must strive hard to build strategic alliances in reaching our targets through the joint effort and partnership of all concerned.

4. Resolve Conflicts Rationally
Conflict is an organisational fact of life. Often this arises due to difference of opinion. What is more important is, how do we resolve conflicts successfully and constructively. The most effective solution to conflict resolution is to adopt a rational, problem - centred approach. The first step to resolve a conflict is to analyse the situation, start of by describing the conflict. You also need to determine the person with whom are you having the problem.

What triggered the conflict? Is it getting worse? Secondly, you must identify the benefits of solving the conflict in terms of productivity and efficiency. I am reminded of this saying “Tact is the ability to make a point without making an enemy”. As leaders you must take a practical approach in resolving conflicts.

5. Leadership responsibilities and performance
Every leader is responsible for his own performance. Simply putting in the hours is not enough. Your party or your members are not going to automatically take care of you. They will not guarantee your leadership sustainability nor will they create a motivating working environment. Ensuring your morale, attitude and job satisfaction is up to you. You must spark your creativity and make your job as a leader more exciting and challenging.

The most important thing for improving your leadership responsibility is to focus on specific goals. Set short-term and long-term goals. Ask yourself, what do you want to accomplish? Set standards that exceed the standards expected from you as a leader by your party. Keep track of your own performance; pay attention to what areas you are doing well. Periodic performance reviews are necessary. Do not dwell on errors but instead try to learn from them. Take time to learn new skills and behaviours. Be optimistic about the value of new techniques and new approaches.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have so far dealt with several aspects as to what knowledge a leader should posses in bringing about a quality organization which you lead, whether it is a branch, division or a state organization. I am sure that many of the things that I have said fits exactly to situations, circumstances, and personalities in our own organization, which demands the process of renewal. I hope that you will take whatever said seriously and act on whatever that is demanded of you as national and community leaders.
(Keynote Address at the Leadership Course organised by the Ministry for National Unity and Social Development at Sri Malaysia, Gentings on November 8, 2002)

(Submitted on 18th Nov 2002)