Characteristics of a bad leader

Ibrahim Mead Political analyst
Ottawa January 8, 2011

Author’s note:

“kaanoo min ikhwaani alshaydaani, wa kana alshaydaanu li Rabihee kafuuraa “ in this context of this paper, those who took Satan a brother, are the bad leaders of Africa and else where who took “Satan” a brother in Satanism!’ and remember “Satan “ disobeyed his creator-Allah, then curse descended on him until dooms day. Likewise the bad leaders will receive the curse of their people in due time! But again don’t you forget it is the people and the country which in the end suffers! They will also suffer, may be here, but for sure in hereafter. Betrayers who turn the sacred office of the people into a family and friends’ enterprise! Those who lie of their conditions when they are not fit for office, for some reasons or the other! The corruptors and the incapable etc, etc!

Somaliland depends on what we do in the present. And in the present we are not doing great! We are not doing great even after the recent change of management, particularly so in the areas of: Interior and defence, i.e. border security, immigration and national security in general! There are other areas of deficiency but the government’s ability is understandably limited, however some areas are urgently more important than others and that urgency was not addressed, therefore the security of the nation is in the balance!

Some people are just bad leaders, however even some good leaders may exhibit bad leadership traits every now and then. But if a leader consistently exhibits bad traits, then the concerned people better do something about it before it is too late, and one way to do that is telling the leader the truth! The government may suffer as consequences of such bad leadership and the country goes with that deficiency! Here are some bad leadership traits in my opinion :

When a leader freezes at times of crises and don’t know what to do and how to do it! When a leader out-sources his duty, for he is not sure! When a leader sits idle and hopes for the best, that some how it will solve by itself! When a leader resorts to run away from the national problems and goes overseas instead of confronting them and solving them, that leader is not only a bad bet, to say it mildly he is a bad leader who exhibited all treats and characteristics of a bad leadership ! A good example is Mr. Sarisoor of the isle of the absurd!

Some bad leaders even metamorphose from bad to worse, then to worst! The case in point is Mr. Sarisoor of the Isle of the absurd who unwisely called back his friend and kinsman, who committed treason against the Isle he rules! The subject, Mr. Sifsaaf was unbelievably welcomed in the VIP room upon arrival there in the Isle! The warmly welcomed betrayal is rumored that he may (mind-bogglingly) be given a serious portfolio in the government of the Isle of the absurd! That act is a typical characteristic of a true abysmal leadership!
Allah commands justice, the doing of good and giving to kith and kin [to safeguard, protect, and feed the people you govern. The people who put you there just to do that duty and the rest of it for them]
Allah forbids all indecent deeds and evil [corruption in all its aspects-clan-ism and cronyism and the rest of it]

He instructs (you) that ye may receive admonition- every thing that is recognized as shameful, and every thing that is really unjust and any inward rebellion against Allah's laws (for good laws are Allah's laws) in our own conscience in its most sensitive form must be avoided. Ye shall certainly be called to account for all your actions. And take not your oaths to practice deception between your selves. (Al naxal, v 90, 94)

The one that do not avoid all the forbidden acts, deceit and deceptions as mentioned above in Allah's call to his servants to follow for their own good, has betrayed and seriously sinned. That one as well, exhibited the characteristics of a bad leader!

”O ye, who may lead, take heed. Cabal-ism and Guulwadism, you may find comfort! Clan connections they may find justification for your blunders! Foolishness and ignorance they (people) may belittle and justify your duty-outsourcing which is a form of duty abandonment!
People may not recognize the significance of the negative aspect of your-hands-off- policy-of your office, and the consequences that entails!!

Blindness they may forgive! But in the end the Mother will pay the price.
How many times can the unfortunate Mother pay the sin of her ruler in near death situation!!
In the name of it-is-just-anew-administration-let-us- give- them a time, people may well borrow a time, the Mother can not afford! Telling them (the bad leadership) the truth is a minimal thing we may do for the Mother! That effort, if done may safe the Mother!
Attributes of lousy leader:

Honest and trustworthiness is the forefront of a good leadership but the lack of that noble virtue is the attribute of a bad leadership! “Allah guides not the snare of the false one”
a. Bad leader takes the red pen and corrects him self! He puts himself above others, when he is below them! In matters involving his government, he would rather protect his own interests and that of his relatives and friends and forgets the interests of the institution he is entrusted! He is like a blind man walking telling every body “get out of the way, I am fine!” he is not fine and he has to be called accountable for his actions…

b. Poor communication: He assumes a lot and expects others to play by his rules. Poor communication is the cause of frequent preventable conflicts. That is why this is a bad trait for a leader to have, and bad leaders have it or fall in to that trap! They don’t recognize the problems. They assume things and expect others to play by the wrong rules! To them it is not wrong when it is really wrong!

c. Indecisiveness. A bad leader wavers in his decisions. He decides one thing, and then changes it again. At times he sub-contracts it to his staff like ministers who may not know what to do! Soon after that, People can get easily confused and frustrated because of this indecisiveness, and by this passing the plate to others who often fail to deliver!
d. Laissez Faire: This is a hands-off policy. This leader simply lets things happen as they happen. He takes his hands off the matter! He does not want to participate in constructing the reality that may lead to benefit his government. He frequently calls committees of a sort to tackle the matter with out even knowing whether such committee is qualified for the matter they were asked to deal with!

e. Poor Self Management: If you cannot manage yourself, how do you expect to manage a whole set of people who are working on different issues and tasks at the same time? Personal self management is a necessity for any good leader. Bad leaders lack that virtue!
f. Playing favorites: Everything in an organization or government must be, merit-based relatively, speaking in certain circumstances. Rewards and even punishments must be corresponding to output and performance. If a leader plays favorites, then he is compromising the long-term health of the government. He can be characterized as a corrupt person.
g. Lack of Accountability: When a leader just wants to do things his way, without regard of accountability, you take note. This is the beginning of a lack of accountability which might lead to a leader going astray.

h. Deceitful: If a leader starts telling stories to one person and then a different version of that story to another person, or pretends that he does not remember this or that, then deceit has taken hold of the leader. There is probably some kind of cover-up going on. Some thing they don’t want the people to know is happening in side!

I. Too passionate for power, wealth and prestige: Leaders are entitled to wealth, power and prestige when and if they deserve it. But if he is passionate only for these things, then something has gone awry! He is no longer thinking right for his office and for the government and for the people who put him there!

J. Loves big strategies but no thought for implementation: It's good to dream. But you got to wake up to implement and chase after those dreams! One must be awoke and aware of and knowledgeable in the first place to follow and chase that dream for the nation.

k. Impulsiveness: A leader should think carefully before embarking on any project and say anything at all! He must be thoughtful for selecting his staff as well as his agenda. The selected staff must be believers of the agenda of the party of the president. They must be capable and compassionate. Failure to do that will take one to the column of bad leader!
l. Complicates conflicts, instead of resolving them: A leader should learn how to manage conflicts and not inflame them. Before attempting to do any thing the leader must educate him self with the issue before him. The good leader listens, all sides. He never out-sources the issue in question! He presides and decides after he listened carefully what the concerned sides say. Bad leaders don’t do that! They ignite the problem while they don’t mean it!
m. Unwillingness to learn: Given the present situation of Somaliland and how the political setting in the region changes continuously, learning is imperative. Employing the well-read staff is imperative as well

n. Reacting negatively to criticism: A leader should keep an open ear to criticism, whether good or bad. It might lead to something good if taken in the right way.

These bad leadership traits and these bad leaders can be found all over Africa. If and when they happen to you, then you may better device some strategy on how to deal with these waakoos to safe the country and the people they embarked on through conflict resolution and peaceful means! Helping them by telling them the truth and showing them the right way as the prophet of Allah advised us, is one avenue to take, among others.

However, peace and prayers