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March 2010 - Posts

How can political leaders engage voters?

A successful leader needs followers, and our political leaders don’t have as many as they used to. Major issues such as the banking crisis, the recession, the MPs’ expenses scandal and the UK’s involvement in overseas conflicts has undermined many people’s trust in political leaders. In 2007, the British Social Attitudes survey found that 29% of people trusted the government to put the needs of the country above those of their party ‘all’ or ‘most’ of the time – not a great percentage. However, the most recent survey found this figure had plummeted to just 16%.

Many people – particularly young people – simply feel that political leaders do not speak to them. They cannot relate to what politicians have to say. Recently-published research from The Electoral Commission found that more than half of young people in the UK are not registered to vote: a staggering 56% of 17-25 year olds.

Some of the decisions our political leaders have made, and some of the behaviour they have displayed, have caused an erosion of trust. Even the greatest, most skilled political leader would not be able to rebuild a climate of trust before election day. However, there are steps the leaders can take to try and encourage a few more people to enter a polling station when election day does come around.

What political leaders choose to talk about is important. What is also important is how they choose to say it. Communication is key. What the public want is political leaders who are open and honest, who genuinely mean what they say, and act as role models for what they believe in. Authenticity is an increasingly important leadership quality. People do not want to hear bland optimism and smiling generalities, and are more likely to accept tough policies and decisions if they are clearly and honestly explained. They also want leaders who’ll listen and have genuine two-way conversations with the public. There are many opportunities to do this, particularly through social media - something Obama utilised so skillfully during his election campaign, and one of the things that particularly helped him to engage with young voters. It’s up to our political leaders to take these opportunities to genuinely engage with the public. Only by being open, honest and authentic, and addressing issues that people genuinely care about can political leaders get what they need more than anything else – followers.

Posted: 24 Mar 2010 1:27 PM by Clare Roberts | with no comments

Filed under: leadership, communication, trust, politics, authenticity

Saying no to bonuses, sending out a strong message

This week it was announced that the CEOs of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group are waiving their bonuses, and the CEOs of HSBC and Standard Chartered will donate theirs to charity. While some media commentators have welcomed these moves, others have criticised them as the banks involved will still pay out many millions in bonuses to other employees.

There is no doubt that these leaders are taking a bold step. Their public statements of personal commitment demonstrate their willingness to listen to others and act on feedback. With the industry still reeling from the banking crisis, the actions of these leaders are scrutinised on a daily basis and their decisions have an impact not only on their own organisations, but also across society.

The recession has changed the way people feel about leaders. It has particularly changed how people feel about leaders of major banks. Trust in leaders has been eroded. It’s time to rebuild that trust through clear, open and honest communication. Time to really listen to others, and to take their views into account when building the organisations of the future. This is what these banking leaders have tried to do this week. Some may argue that it’s a very small step – but it’s a step in the right direction.

Posted: 3 Mar 2010 5:04 PM by Clare Roberts | with no comments

Filed under: leadership, morals, ethics

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