Ada yang bertanya, kenapa sudah 3 hari saya tidak mengemaskini blog ini. Sebenarnya pada hari Sabtu dan Ahad lepas, saya pulang ke kampung suami untuk meraikan majlis perkahwinan sepupunya.
Ahad lepas juga (3 Ogos) adalah hari ulangtahun kelahiran saya. Dan semalam, saya sengaja ‘bercuti’ untuk melegakan sedikit keletihan. Siang tadi pula, saya sibuk menyiapkan kerja-kerja pejabat yang semakin menghampiri ‘dateline’nya.
Apa yang saya ingin kongsikan kali ini adalah beberapa siri perbincangan yang berlangsung sewaktu saya berada di kampung suami.
“UMNO dah hancur…”
Ungkapan di atas keluar dari mulut seorang veteran UMNO yang sangat terkenal di kampung suami saya. Riak wajahnya terpampang kekesalan dan juga kesedihan tatkala mengungkapkan ayat itu. Saya seakan-akan mengerti dan memahami perasaannya ketika itu.
Biarpun usianya kini sudah mencecah 80 tahun, tapi ingatannya masih utuh. Dia dapat menceritakan kronologi perjuangannya membangunkan UMNO dengan baik sekali. Biarpun namanya tidak sehebat tokoh-tokoh UMNO yang lain, tapi dia tetap megah dengan usaha lampaunya itu.
Dulu, dia dan rakan-rakannya sanggup berbasikal beratus-ratus kilometer, meredah hujan dan terik mentari semata-mata untuk memperjuangkan UMNO. Bukan imbuhan wang, nama, kuasa atau jawatan yang dicarinya. Niatnya hanyalah untuk membangunkan martabat bangsa dan agamanya.
Pada waktu itu, tidak ada sesiapa yang berani untuk merebut jawatan. Malah, jawatan yang disandang itu dilihat sebagai amanah dan hanya mereka yang ‘benar-benar layak sahaja’ yang akan diberikan jawatan.
“Kalau kamu anak orang kaya sekalipun, belum tentu kamu akan diberi jawatan” ujarnya perlahan.
Sesekali dia merenung wajah cucu-cucunya yang sedang asyik mendengar cerita silamnya itu. Di kala usianya yang sudahpun senja, dia seakan-akan mahu menyampaikan amanat buat cucu-cucu kesayangannya itu. Saya cuba mengamati setiap butir ayat yang cuba disampaikannya pada kami.
“Parti itu ibarat sehelai kain putih. Jika hitam corak pemimpinnya, maka akan hitamlah corak parti itu.”
“Tidak kiralah ‘parti’ apapun yang kamu pimpin atau perjuangkan. Parti yang putih boleh jadi hitam dan parti yang hitam pun boleh jadi putih”
“Yang penting, kamu kena sentiasa berpegang pada kebenaran dan keikhlasan. Insya’ Allah… kamu akan menjadi pemimpin yang berjaya.” Tambahnya lagi.
Bila ditanya pandangan peribadinya tentang masa depan UMNO, lama juga dia mendiamkan diri. Mungkin dia sedang tercari-cari jawapan yang ‘ikhlas’.
“Sekarang ni, UMNO dah hancur. Untuk pulihkan semula UMNO, kena ada pemimpin yang benar-benar ikhlas dan baik. Malangnya sekarang ni, UMNO tidak ada pemimpin seperti itu. UMNO perlukan pemimpin macam Onn Jaafar, Tunku (Abd Rahman) ataupun Tun Razak.”
Kata-katanya terhenti seketika.
“Mahathir berjaya majukan negara ini… tapi dia gagal ‘majukan’ bangsa dan pewaris kepimpinan UMNO. Pak Lah sekarang hanya mewarisi kegagalan Mahathir. Banyak pemimpin baik dalam UMNO yang ditenggelamkan oleh Mahathir. Akhirnya, pemimpin-pemimpin yang baik itu tinggalkan UMNO ataupun dia orang ‘takut’ dengan UMNO. Akhirnya yang tinggal dalam UMNO adalah pemimpin yang tidak baik ataupun pemimpin yang tidak boleh memimpin.”
“Macam kita sembahyang jemaah. Kalau imam salah baca, makmum kena tegur. Tapi, kalau makmum pun tak tahu apa yang imam baca, macam mana imam nak tahu yang dia salah baca? Akhirnya, apa makna sembahyang kita tu?”
Soalan itu membuatkan kami berfikir sejenak. Tiba-tiba sepupu suami saya bertanya padanya.
“Kalau UMNO dah hancur, apa yang orang kita kena buat Tok?” soalnya perlahan.
Soalan itu dijawab dengan tenang dan yakin olehnya.
“Kita kena tinggalkan UMNO. Biarkan UMNO lemah dahulu. Bila UMNO dah lemah, ‘semut-semut’ yang sibuk cari gula dalam UMNO akan mati kelaparan sebab gula dalam UMNO dah habis. Semut-semut ni nanti akan cari gula kat tempat lain pulak. Bila semut-semut ni dah lari, barulah kita bangunkan semula UMNO. Lepas tu, jangan lupa sediakan perangkap air supaya semut-semut ni tak dapat masuk semula untuk mencuri gula.”
Jawapannya itu membuat kami ketawa kecil. Sepupu suami yang bertanya tadi menambah soalannya lagi.
“Nak perangkap macam mana tok? Manusia ni kan mudah rambang mata bila ‘gula’ dah banyak depan mata?”
Soalan itu pantas dijawab olehnya.
“Ittaqullah…. (Takutlah kepada Allah). Hidup kita, bangsa kita, agama kita, anak-cucu kita dan semuanya akan selamat kalau kita semua betul-betul beriman dan bertaqwa kepadaNya”. Jawabnya sambil menudingkan jarinya ke atas.
Bersambung …
- Blogger Comment
- Facebook Comment
22 comments:
PERINGATAN: Portal Melaka News tidak bertanggungjawab terhadap komentar yang diutarakan melalui laman sosial ini. Ia pandangan peribadi pemilik akaun dan tidak semestinya menggambarkan pendirian sidang redaksi kami. Segala risiko akibat komen yang disiarkan menjadi tanggungjawab pemilik akaun sendiri.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
Nasihat yang berguna daripada seorang veteran...
ReplyDeleteassalamualaikum ...
ReplyDeletebest tul entry puan nie .. kalau dapat kongsi saya nak kongsi idea bleh ??
Harap sangat PKR boleh ambil aleh kerajaan ...... tak suka akan kesan-kesan keangkuhan Tun Mahathir ...... Konspirasi... adalah agenda Mahathir.... sekarang pengikut bodohnyer sibuk mengagungkan Mahathir dalam blog Chedet.... kekadang terfikir.... komen beratus tu pun... agaknyer mahathir upah orang suruh tulis...pujian melambung.....
ReplyDeleteApa-apa aje boleh berlaku dalam zaman mahathir
Assalamualaikum...
ReplyDeleteTerharu membacanya..sememangnya umno tu dikotori oleh pemimpinnya sendiri kerana terlalu bernafsu mengejar duniawi sehingga lupa akan keikhlasan yang dipertanggung jawapkan.Sisa2 kotoran yang ditinggalkan sukar untuk dibersihkan.Kalau dah ditakdirkan umno itu hancur demi kebaikan jenerasi akan datang apa salahnya ,biarpun perit untuk ditelan terutama bagi mereka yang ikhlas memperjungkannya.
ilyninda
Assalamualaikum,
ReplyDelete1. Jangan terlalu mengharapkan "pembaharuan" daripada PKR sekiranya mereka mengambil alih tampuk Kerajaan. Bukan "parti" yang menjadi ukuran, tetapi "pemimpin yang memimpin parti" adalah lebih penting.
2. Jangan terlalu taksub menyokong seseorang pemimpin. Ahli politik, seperti manusia biasa, bukan maksum (tidak terpelihara dari membuat dosa/kesilapan). Kadangkala yang dipuja, akan menjadi racun binasa. Tidak banyak bezanya antara seorang pelakon dan seorang ahli politik.
3. Pakatan seringkali melaungkan "Bangsa Malaysia". Saya juga menyokong sebuah negara yang tidak mendiskriminasikan mana-mana kaum tetapi dalam zaman sekarang, saya tidak pasti visi tersebut boleh tercapai kerana minda pemimpin-pemimpin kita tidak dapat menerimanya (UMNO dengan laungan "Ketuanan Melayunya" yang menyentuh sensitiviti kaum lain), termasuklah juga yang berada di dalam Pakatan.
4. Contoh yang jelas, DAP, yang kuat membawa konsep Bangsa Malaysia. Tetapi pernahkah kita mendengar atau terbaca saranan daripada mana-mana pemimpin DAP supaya menghapuskan SR(J)K and SM(J)K ? Bagaimana kita hendak mewujudkan Bangsa Malaysia selagi anak-anak kita "disekolahkan" dengan membezakan etnik masing-masing. Bagaimanakah anak-anak kita akan bergaul sesama mereka dan mengenali budaya yang wujud di antara mereka sekiranya mereka "dipisahkan" sejak kecil ? Penghapusan SR(J)K and SM(J)K tidak perlu dikhuatiri oleh DAP kerana subjek-subjek yang diajar di sekolah tersebut boleh diajar di sekolah yang menempatkan semua pelajar Bangsa Malaysia. Pelajar Melayu boleh belajar bahasa Cina, Pelajar Cina boleh belajar bahasa India dsb.
5. Sekiranya "Bangsa Malaysia" hendak dicapai, ia perlu dimulakan dengan anak-anak kita selaku bakal pemimpin negara. Sedihnya, tiada seorang pun pemimpin yang berfikiran sedemikian.
aku nak tanye sket pd PUAN NURAFLAH dan CROWER.........
ReplyDelete1. sape sebenarnye crower ni? aku admire dier.......
2. agak2nye lah, crower ni suami puan nuraflah tak?
jgn marah.........just asking..huhu
-akuyangkompius-
Salam Aflah...
ReplyDeleteMeremang bulu roma saye bace citer nih... Sedih... Kenape? Entah...
Thanx 4 sharing this with us Aflah...
saya sokong crower,
ReplyDeletesaya adalah peniaga kecilan yang terkesan dengan sikap perkauman..... bukan dari bangsa melayu tetapi dari mereka yang bergelar bangsa cina.
Kerana sikap prejudis cina, pelanggan cina akan avoid datang kepermis melayu..... sedangkan pelanggan melayu pula tak yakin melayu boleh memberi perkhidmatan yang baik.
so ...bagaimana melayu nak berniaga???
Kena buang sikap perkauman....bukan dikalangan melayu...tetapi dikalangan bangsa asing yang tak mahu kamil dengan bangsa melayu.
Kita hanya perlu memilih parti yg baik utk menguruskan negara.Lupakan Umno atau bukan Umno.Utk berjaya seseorang tidak sangat bergantung pada parti politik,tapi pada diri mereka sendiri.Kalau negara di urus dgn baik,dasar yg betul dan peluang di buka tanpa mengira bulu ,insyaallah,siapa yg berusaha akan berjaya.
ReplyDeletegua nak menulis pn crower dh tulis..5 perenggan beb..penuh dgn info..cayalah!
ReplyDeleteTerharu mengenang kan nasib bangsa & nasib anak2 pada masa akan datang..
ReplyDeleteAssalamualaikum,
ReplyDeleteBagi anonymous,
1. Saya bukan suami Nur Aflah.
2. Saya suka memberi komen di blog-blog terpilih seperti blog Nur Aflah kerana intipati blognya dan yang seangkatan dengannya tidak nampak memihak kepada mana-mana pihak.
3. Kebanyakkan blog sekarang hanya menghentam dan menyiarkan keburukkan parti yang tidak disokongnya. Saya tidak percaya BN itu 100% tidak baik demikianlah juga pada Pakatan Rakyat. Kesemuanya ada kelebihan dan kelemahan masing-masing. Sifat terlalu taksub akan membutakan kita apabila kita menilai sesuatu perkara.
hm..dat's it.actually ramai orang skrg mcm crower.tapi susah cari.
ReplyDeleteunderground kot..hehehe...
berfikir tak dipengaruhi emosi..
baru dapat bezakan mana baik mana buruk..mana betul mana salah...
harap wujud ramai penyokong mahupun pemimpin yg berfikiran macam crower...baru dapat berfikir secara adil.aminnn...=)
qasih
mengarut kemenangan berada dipihak yang benar
ReplyDeletekemenangan berada dipihak yang berusaha kuat
dunia ni dunia fitnah. klau tak dengan kekuatan dan kebijaksanaan masakan kebenaran mampu ditegakkan.
alok
sebagai seorg intelek, kita mesti menyokong matlamat, bukannya parti
ReplyDeletesepanjang saya mengenali politik,hampir semua usaha BN gagal.
PR masih belum diberi peluang memerintah. mereka mmg patut diberi kepercayaan dan sokongan oleh rakyat jelata.
bg BN yang gagal, buat apa mau dilindungi lagi kegagalan mereka.sudah 50thn diberi mandat, disiasiakan. tunggu sehingga mereka duduk dikerusi pembangkang baru beri peluang baru. sehingga itu, PR for government
drabdulwahid
EN CROWER
ReplyDeleteMEMANG MELAYU MUDAH LUPA.
MAHATHIR PUN MAHUKAN "BANGSA MALAYSIA".....SO ITS NOTHING NEW HERE.
KESIAN tengok bangsa uyalem....
ReplyDeletetak abis abis dgn forum "ketupat"
keluar satu isu...kupasan takde lain, cakar badan sendiri sampai luka parah.. tiada resolusi,tiada jalan keluar.....
orang lain berketupat untuk memajukan diri,bangsa dan agama.
ini tidak... fikir dengan lutut mcm mana nak cah keting sesama sendiri...
dulu hang tuah kata... takkan uyalem hilang di dunia, betul... tu..tok tuah.. tapi fizikal dan kulit sawo matang memang tak hilang, ...tapi jati diri yang hilang. . apa yang di maksudkan hang tuah adalah "reversed psychology"... pada anak cucu nyer.
tapi uyalem singkat akal pikir lurus bodoh.....
wahai anak bangsa...melayu yang ku cintai.....jgn lah berak dan kencing pada badan sendiri dan jgn kencing dan berak pada badan orang lain.
kita di jadikan berbangsa2 oleh ALLAH untuk memertabatkan bangsa itu sendiri dengan nilai nilai yang mulia.. nilai jati diri terbaik.bukan di kutok di bodohkan, di hina sesama sendiri.
bangsa lain pecah otak pikir mcm mana nak naik ke bulan..bangsa aku hanya setakat tengok bulan.
orang lain pecah otak mengkaji penyakit penyakit dalam badan..cipta ubat...bangsa aku hanya tau nak musnahkan jiwa dan badan sendiri.
orng lain pecah otak pikir macam mana nak bina empayar perniagaan.. bangsa aku, apa yang di pikir...asyik dengan mental sabsidi dan harap mulut di suapkan..dah lah di suapkan...tangan yang menyuap di kekah rabak.
kita nih tak tau menghargai sesuatu....kalau pun kita membenci sesuatu perkara...nilai yang baik jgn lah di nafikan....inilah "denial syndrome"
yang membelenggu bangsa uyalem....
sampai dia masuk dalam kubor di mahsyar di hadrat ILLAHI pun kalau boleh dia nak "denial syndromekan"
sori ler tntn pnpn....maser tu lidah dah di sepit.. segala sel sel yang berjuta2 di badan yang membentuk rupa setiap anggota menjadi saksi. sel sel lidah dan bibir hanya terkedu tak berkata2...
tak sayang ke kita pada rohani sendiri, jasmani akan tua dan "seasoned" tapi rohani yang akan sengsara....
jgn kita menjerit meminta ALLAH pulangkn kita balik ke jasad dan berkata aku mahu bertaubat yang ALLAH....aku nak bina masyarakat aku nak buat terbaik menghidupkan HABLUMINNANNAS.... NO EXIT! .... ONCE U COME BACK TO ME...NO WAY U LL RETURNED BACK TO YOUR HOST ( JASAD )...
dulu kau berjanji dengan aku di alam roh akan jadi khalifah di muka bumi....tapi kau jadi dajal merosak apa yang aku bagi. diri kau sendiri pun kau rosakkan. CUKUPLAH IBLIS DENGAN BONGKAKNYA. kau tau betapa malaikat pun sujud pada kemulian mu sebagai manusia.
kau tak ingat ker.. tak sabar sabar berenang2 berlumba dengan adik beradik kau mengejar telor sebiji, tak sempat sempat.. rohani kau menenggek berudu nak jadi NUTFAH...aku kembangkan sifatkau ke ALAQAH..aku lengkapkan kau jadi MUDIGHAH... aku bagi lagi segala nikmat terbaik pada kau.... itu pun tergesa gesa kau nak keluar dari perut mak kau. kau gelojoh ...menjerit " konon aku dah berjaya " belum wahai manusia.... angkuh kau yang menjahanamkan kau dalam neraka jahanam aku... kau hina sifat sifat manusia dan ciri bangsa melayu kau yang aku anugerahkan ....makhluk aku dari bangsa binatang dan tumbuhan pun tau berterima kasih dan berzikir pada aku dan muliakan sifat mereker..kau sesama keturunan pun tak sedar diri..... kalau begitu, kau tunggu lah nanti..bila bangsa bangsa lain yang ku cipta meratah bangsa kau...jgn kau salah kan mereka ...dan aku .... kau taukah mcm mana hina si baghdad di ratah monggol..bagaimana orang si andalus di robek ferdinand.. hari ini palestin...sudan...baghdad bosnia chechen turkistan....apa jadi? aku tunjukkan pun kau tuli,buta,bisu ....QALAM ku kau lupa.....kau ingat baik baik QALAM KU...." tunjuk kan kami jalan yang lurus " " tak aku ciptakan manusia dan jin melainkan beribadah pada aku " " TIDAK AKAN AKU UBAHKAN NASIB SESUATU KAUM MELAINKAN KAUM ITU MENGUBAH NASIB NYA SENDIRI "
suatu masa nanti kau sendiri akan gerun dengan musuh musuh kau sendiri...apa dia! .... sifat nafsu zulmat kau yang hitam pekat dan lebih busuk dari segala benda yang busuk d alam kehidupan kau sendiri.....tunggu............ ya ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...................................................................................................................................................................................... jgn kau tinggalkan aku!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....................................................................
ASTAGHFIRULLAH HAL AZIM....... YA ALLAH YA RABB AMPUN KAN DIRIKU,AMPUNKAN KEDUA DUA IBU BAPA KU...AMPUNKAN BANGSA MELAYU KU....rupanyer aku bersurrealis dalam mimpi.....
salam....
jalan jalan seorang fana....
Assalamualikum,
ReplyDeleteBomoh Din,
1. Apa yang dikatakan oleh Mahathir tidak terpakai pada diri saya kerana Mahathir tiada hak untuk berkata bagi pihak saya. Malang bagi Mahathir sekiranya beliau hanya berkenalan dengan spesis Melayu yang mudah lupa, tetapi adakah itu memberikan dia hak untuk memlabeklan semua Melayu begitu ?
2. Ramai yang "mahukan" tetapi tidak ramai yang melaksanakan.
We the Rakyat, should evaluate and determine the kind of Leaders we want for our beloved country, Malaysia
ReplyDeleteHere are the Top 10 Qualities of a Good Leader
By David Hakala
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leadership can be defined as one's ability to get others to willingly follow. Every organization needs leaders at every level. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you look for the following character traits:
A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, "Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion."
A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.
Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.
Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the organization. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.
Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question ... ”
Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.
Many leaders have difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness, according to a study in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the APA (American Psychological Association). It seems that being underassertive or overassertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders.
A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader. Anyone can cultivate these leadership qualities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANWAR, ARE YOU A VISIONARY LEADER???
ReplyDeleteDSAI, Are you someone with a vision burning inside that seeks to manifest? Do you see yourself as a visionary?
Visionary leaders are the builders of a new dawn, working with imagination, insight, and boldness. They present a challenge that calls forth the best in people and brings them together around a shared sense of purpose. They work with the power of intentionality and alignment with a higher purpose. Their eyes are on the horizon, not just on the near at hand. They are social innovators and change agents, seeing the big picture and thinking strategically.
What is it that makes a visionary become a visionary leader? A visionary may dream wonderful visions of the future and articulate them with great inspiration. A visionary is good with words. But a visionary leader is good with actions as well as words, and so can bring his vision into being in the world, thus transforming it in some way. More than words are needed for a vision to take form in today’s world. It requires leadership and heartfelt commitment.
There is a profound interconnectedness between the leader and the whole, and true visionary leaders serve the good of the whole. They recognize that there is some truth on both sides of most polarized issues in our society today. They search for solutions that transcend the usual adversarial approaches and address the causal level of problems. They find a higher synthesis of the best of both sides of an issue and address the systemic root causes of problems to create real breakthroughs.
A visionary leader is effective in manifesting his or her vision because he creates specific, achievable goals, initiates action and enlists the participation of others.
What are the qualities and abilities of true visionary leaders? What is the mysterious inner process within leaders that enables them to work their magic and radiate the charisma that mobilizes others for a higher purpose?
Visionary leadership is based on a balanced expression of the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical dimensions. It requires core values, clear vision, empowering relationships, and innovative action. When one or more of these dimensions are missing, leadership cannot manifest a vision.
A COMMITMENT TO CORE SPIRITUAL VALUES
A commitment to values is an outstanding characteristic of all visionary leaders. They embody a sense of personal integrity, and radiate a sense of energy, vitality and will. Will is standing in a spiritual state of being. Will is a spiritual attribute, which allows a leader to stand for something.
More self-aware and reflective than others, visionary leaders follow an inner sense of direction, and lead from the inside out, as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi. He said, “I must first be the change I want to see in my world.” He was a prime example of a commitment to values, as he freed India by appealing to the moral conscience of Britain and using non-violent action to reveal the immorality of the British Empire.
Rather than being corrupted by power, visionary leaders are elevated by power and exercise moral leadership. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, embodies this type of moral leadership, as does Marion Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, who has a deep commitment to children’s welfare.
A CLEAR, INSPIRATIONAL VISION
Visionaries who are successful at manifesting their visions base their leadership on an inspirational, positive picture of the future, as well as a clear sense of direction as to how to get there. Vision is a field that brings energy into form. Effective leaders broadcast a coherent message by themselves embodying their vision, as author Margaret Wheatley notes. They keep communicating the vision to create a strong field which then brings their vision into physical reality. Nelson Mandela clearly held a positive vision of a racially harmonious South Africa during his 28 years in jail and helped bring it into reality peacefully, to the amazement of the world.
The best visionary leaders move energy to a higher level by offering a clear vision of what is possible. They inspire people to be better than they already are and help them identify with what Lincoln called “the angels of their better nature”. This was the power of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. The creative power of lighted, inspired words can sound a certain inner note that people recognize and respond to. This then creates dramatic social change. Like King, visionary leaders have the ability to sense the deeper spiritual needs of followers and link their current demands to these deeper, often unspoken, need for purpose and meaning.
Visionary leaders often have the ability to see higher spiritual forces at work behind the scenes of events, and they align with the vision of these redemptive forces. Both George Washington and Winston Churchill spoke about the help they received from a “guiding hand”. Churchill said, “...we have a guardian because we serve a great cause, and we shall have that guardian as long as we serve that cause faithfully”.
Sojourner Truth, a former slave, was guided by an inner spiritual experience to preach the emancipation of slaves and women’s rights all over the country during the Civil War. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt had a vision of Mohammed who told him to create peace in the Middle East. This vision is the hidden story behind the Camp David Peace Treaty between Arabs and Israelis.
Visionary leaders transmit energy to people, giving them a new sense of hope and confidence in achieving the vision. Television host Oprah Winfrey helps her guests believe in themselves and work to create a better world.
Visionary leaders often enunciate a vision based on principles that become guideposts for humanity. They intuitively draw on the ageless wisdom and present it in a new synthesis to meet the particular need of the times. In the Brundtland Report, Gro Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway, helped synthesize the principles of sustainable development that are needed to protect our environment for future generations.
RESPECTFUL, EMPOWERING RELATIONSHIPS
Good relationships are the heart of effective visionary leaders. They embody a deeply caring approach to people, seeing them as their greatest asset. Aaron Feuerstein, CEO of Malden Mills, kept all his employees on the payroll when a fire destroyed 75% of his factories. His employees were so grateful they helped him rebuild and within a year the company was more profitable than ever.
In contrast to the old style of leadership which tells people what to do, and pushes or dominates them, visionary leaders embody a receptive, as well as a dynamic energy. They know how to listen and learn from other points of view and have fine tuned their communications skills. Rita Bailey, Director of Southwest Airline’s University for People, says the secret of the airline’s amazing financial success is living by the golden rule: treating employees as family, with warmth and respect. Employees then treat customers the same way.
Visionary leaders promote a partnership approach and create a shared sense of vision and meaning with others. They exhibit a greater respect for others and carefully develop team spirit and team learning, Building this sense of shared vision and partnership has also been key to the effectiveness of feminist Gloria Steinem.
The most effective visionary leaders are responsive to the real needs of people and they develop participative strategies to include people in designing their own futures. This approach has been very successful for Robert Haas, the CEO of Levi Strauss. Rather than confront or avoid conflict, the new leaders have learned how to transform conflict into usable energy. They work to unite, rather than divide people.
INNOVATIVE, COURAGEOUS ACTION
Visionary leaders are especially noted for transforming old mental maps or paradigms, and creating strategies that are “outside the box” of conventional thought. They embody a balance of right brain (rational) and left brain (intuitive) functions. Their thinking is broad and systemic, seeing the big picture, the whole system, and “the pattern that connects.” They then create innovative strategies for actualizing their vision.
CNN founder Ted Turner transformed television news by boldly creating an around-the-clock international news network.
Visionary leaders anticipate change and are proactive, rather than reactive to events. Their focus is on opportunities, not on problems. They emphasize win/win, rather than adversarial win/lose approaches.
When we see a truly visionary leader accomplishing great things, he is drawing on the resources of their soul and its remarkable capabilities. Each of us can access our inner resources to become a more effective leader in our own field. First we must be willing to take initiative and stand for something we believe in passionately. We must be ready to take the heat. Many of us avoid the responsibility of leadership primarily because we are too sensitive to criticism. But when we know who we truly are and we live from an inner core of values, criticism can be filtered to take in only what is true and helpful to our growth.
Today, as we enter the Third Millennium, thousands of new visionary leaders are emerging in all fields of human endeavor around the world, leading a quiet revolution energized by power of the soul. By appreciating and supporting those who lead from their core spiritual values, we strengthen those leadership qualities in ourselves.
VISIONARY LEADERSHIP
Corinne McLaughlin
so long.... to read. IF ANWAR IBRAHIM CANNOT
ReplyDeletemy answer :
NIK AZIZ OR HADI AWANG OR HUSAM MUSA OR AZIZAH ISMAIL OR WHO AHHHH?
MAY BE ADI PUTRA. WHO KNOWS.
so long.... to read. IF ANWAR IBRAHIM CANNOT
ReplyDeletemy answer :
NIK AZIZ OR HADI AWANG OR HUSAM MUSA OR AZIZAH ISMAIL OR WHO AHHHH?
MAY BE ADI PUTRA. WHO KNOWS.