This great leader cautioned his followers about a group of highly regarded individuals in the leadership space. He said: “All the things they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they do not practice what they say.” This profound teaching is as relevant today as it was when it was first shared some two millenniums ago. How often have we seen the dislocation between the eloquence in which words spew out of the mouths of leaders and the rather enervated way those very leaders attempt to harmonise their actions with their words?
Leaders must distinguish themselves as the moral conscience of the led. Perhaps that is why the great leader said, “Wisdom is proved righteous by its works.” In so saying, he was inviting all to punctiliously audit his lifestyle and personality, and based on that, objectively determine whether the slanderous accusations levelled against him held water. The great leader was confident that his record would speak in his favour. Is this something that leaders could do? Can they wholeheartedly invite their followers and detractors to examine their record, confident that they cannot be accused of slyly covering ugly cracks with eye-catching wallpaper? The bottom line; leaders must swiftly act to plug the lacuna between high-sounding idealistic slogans and material praxis.
