Editor Note: Misguided Actions Of Wannabe Leaders

For all that leaders plan and strategise, the effectiveness of a leader depends on several traits and competencies – Eric Lau focuses on the essentials of integrity and credibility.

In the same vein, we feature the book Credibility – How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It.

How often have we seen leaders demand respect and loyalty, whilst knowing in our hearts that leaders must work hard to earn respect, loyalty and credibility?

My belief is that deep down, these leaders also know that demanding and enforcing respect is a hollow victory.

On a very personal level, Mitch Ditkoff shares his own struggles and internal conflicts on being honest to himself and to everyone he engages with – and the moment it dawned on him that he can make a difference in this world, only if he can speak to all with love and respect. Rather than just plodding along on survival mode, he urges us all to “speak the truth to elevate the conversation”.

Not too far away from the corporate jungle, we take a look at Aesop’s Fables, stories that may have opened our minds and eyes as young readers – as we took our tentative first steps into the world of complex human relationships.

Going from a myriad of four-legged, two-legged (and at times no-legged!) protagonists, we take a moment to dwell on Iggy the Iguana – who made a great impact on the life and personal development journey of our Lim Lay Hsuan.

Dinesh Dorai Raj asks the question “What makes a credible leader?” and walks us through five ways a leader might fall from grace. But do leaders only exist in the corporate sphere? While some may try to don more than one hat at a time, Joshua Yee does remind us that we are leaders at work, in families, in our communities – and offers some great insights on how to be effective leaders.

On the topic of leaders (as we most frequently are!), this week we bring you an instalment of The Leaderonomics Show – this time with Datuk Charon Wardini Mokhzani, managing director of Khazanah Research Institute.

Last, but certainly not least, Stephanie Ling stresses the importance of soft skills in our Starting Young column – why and how we should go beyond paper qualifications to be leaders in the making.

As we will not be having an issue next Saturday, all of us at Leaderonomics would like to take this opportunity to wish our Muslim friends Selamat Berpuasa for the remaining days of Ramadhan, and Selamat Hari Raya.

Best wishes from our homes to yours – enjoy cherished moments with family and friends and safe travels!

Onwards, upwards!

KAREN NEOH

Editor

First appeared on Leaderonomics.com. Published in English daily The Star, Malaysia, 11 July 2015