Failure of imagination

Leadership is a virtue little celebrated. But great leaders and visionaries can transform industries, imagination and culture. Today, the collective conscience has turned to business personalities as the outlet of leadership, but at one time this highest echelon was reserved for politicians.

In the past, politicians held the noblest of vocations. The chosen few selected to represent the interests of the masses, with divine guidance they would steer the course of our future so the represented could focus on their families, jobs and businesses. But this weight has waned. Today, the political culture teeters from creating scandal to scandal avoidance – tiptoeing through issues, paralyzed to avoid career limiting decisions.

Leaders need to be bold. They are steadfast in their beliefs and take calculated risks to achieve their goals. (Who are the Island titans leaning into passions?) They seem less the character presented on Compass and more the impassioned citizen unconcerned with their re-election entitlements or pension.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are two of the many philanthropic architects who have signed the ‘giving pledge’ – a commitment where the majority of their wealth will be distributed to make the world a better place. Ray Dalio and Jamie Dimon are advocates for redefining the role of corporations and how their purpose can serve all stakeholders, not just the shareholders. Even Elon Musk, often compared to P.T. Barnum, has a singular goal to colonize Mars so the human species can survive the inevitable self-destruction of our current planet.

Two quarters into a provincial government mandate and in the final blows of a muted federal election, where is the visionary leadership? Who is emerging as the force of focus? How will prosperity elevate all, and who can manage the transition from decaying infrastructure to a vibrant and dynamic economy where all are elevated?

Our progress needle is not moving. We are stagnating, dormant of decisiveness and inspiration. Opposition is an equally devoid enigma, myopically focused on circular passion projects or too self-indulged to recognize they’re a necessary element of the solution.

Leaders take risk. A good team can calculate and measure how far to push and what to communicate.

Health care is long overdue an emergent intervention, education is failing many, infrastructure needs to be modernized, population growth is a singular salvation to manage debt and stimulate growth and business needs to be embraced and encouraged if all in our society are to be better off. Investment and vision.

Business reaction ‘is’ different. Business would communicate a plan, inspire with a strategy and move forward to execute as efficiently as possible. If the plan is good, others will subscribe and support the objective. If the plan is flawed, it will course correct and redirect. Business recognizes the scarcity of time and the urgency to act.

Aside from the personal charisma of a handful of actors, the political field is flat. Those with ideas are suppressed and most are happy to float quietly, unnerved to rock the boat for fear they could be tipped into the water. An enema may be required, or at least a startled awakening that time is finite and action essential. A suggestion from 2,000 years ago: “Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise” – Horace.