I have long held a grievance against our nation’s leaders: That they have not done and are not doing enough to inspire the nation. They have done great things for the nation. They have devised policies, delivered infrastructure, introduced reforms, managed international affairs to market our nation world-wide, and they have succeeded in their personal lives and endeavours (more or less). But we have yet to experience the kind of leadership that can rally a nation to action.
Change, the kind we want to see, has to be the result of intentional action of people, not just the policy of governments. People take action for two reasons. First they can be moved externally. Through the reward for positive action and threat of punishment for negative action. Second, they can be moved to action through internal conviction. Internal conviction is the most powerful kind of motivation. It is triggered by a belief in one’s heart. He has to be convinced of a certain purpose, a cause, a vision. The Conviction has to be personal. One has to believe that he will acquire a personal reward. Particularly, the reward of personal satisfaction and fulfilment – universal needs. If they believe it strong enough, they will take the necessary action to realise a purpose.
This is lacking in our country. The people are not convinced enough to take a particular action to cause the kind of change at the desired time. For the number that is convinced enough to take the desired action, they pick up their inspiration either spontaneously, sporadically, or accidentally. Whilst the result is good, it is not yet wide enough and united enough. Leaders, especially Members of Parliament, and more so the Prime Minister, have the amazing opportunity of a default platform from which people will listen. Those of us who try to inspire don’t have that kind of platform. As I write this I am sitting on an armchair with a plywood straddling the arms of the chair like a tray in economy class on Fokker 100, in my little home surrounded by my kids yelling for my attention. Hardly the setting of a leader worth the attention of multitudes. These words will be published on a blog post that will be read by only a handful of people who have internet access. The multitudes will not read this. But they will give their attention when the Prime Minister speaks. Therein lies his true power and his greatest opportunity to trigger significant change. The power to speak to their hearts and instil in them a deep conviction. To convince them of a purpose and the need for their participation and action. To convince them to change their ways.
Papua New Guineans are feelers first, listeners second, seers third, believers fourth, and actors last. For the majority, reading is not even in that process, so I can only write to the few. For hundreds of generations we learned by listening and seeing. That mode of learning is still prevalent. To inspire them, our leaders (the ones whom we listen to by default) must speak words of wisdom, wrapped by the appropriate passion, and backed by their own actions. Just like our ancestors spent time by the fire to communicate ancient values through stories and justify their next courses of action and rallied action, our leaders must return to the fireside and speak to our hearts.
Don’t talk to us about policies and politics. We understand already that you need us to support your party and your policies. We will decide that going forward. What we need is to be convinced about what we need to do and why we need to do it – not just us the few, but us the multitude.
I have numerous times attended the Independence Day flag-raising ceremonies on Independence Hill, and heard Prime Ministers deliver their speeches, and have in all those times walked away disappointed. Disappointed primarily because apart from the great sense of pride and joy I feel in that atmosphere; my heart was not stirred. The excitement I experienced and observed in so many Papua New Guineans withered away only a few days after. I suppose it is because speech-writers felt a need to sell the government’s achievements rather than rally action. Our current Prime Minister is a great orator especially in Tok Pisin. He would do well to address the nation in Tok Pisin regularly on radio and television. He needs to be heard more than read. He has been described as a can-do PM. And I would agree in light of great leaps of faith he and his government have taken since taking office. With that backing he can speak about a can-do attitude of all Papua New Guineans. He could communicate the ability to dream big and be confident in one’s own abilities. To convince people to change their ways and attitude.
Perhaps we can take a hint from the movie Invictus, in which Mandela and Pienaar are discussing leadership and how to inspire others. Piennaar offers that it is too lead by example. Mandela replies “I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.” While these weren’t actual Mandela words, the movie script is accurate in principle. Our elders would tell stories of others to inspire action. Stories are universally impactful. Jesus used stories powerfully to communicate lessons and inspire action.
So speak. Speak of the envisioned future. The power of united action. Speak of a higher purpose. Speak to friends and families and individuals, not just subjects of a nation. Speak frequently and regularly. Not just once a year. But once a month and maybe every week. While this may seem like a big investment of time, I believe it is time well invested. Rallying people to action is priceless. It would be the most impactful means of bringing about the desired change in our nation.
Change, the kind we want to see, has to be the result of intentional action of people, not just the policy of governments. People take action for two reasons. First they can be moved externally. Through the reward for positive action and threat of punishment for negative action. Second, they can be moved to action through internal conviction. Internal conviction is the most powerful kind of motivation. It is triggered by a belief in one’s heart. He has to be convinced of a certain purpose, a cause, a vision. The Conviction has to be personal. One has to believe that he will acquire a personal reward. Particularly, the reward of personal satisfaction and fulfilment – universal needs. If they believe it strong enough, they will take the necessary action to realise a purpose.
This is lacking in our country. The people are not convinced enough to take a particular action to cause the kind of change at the desired time. For the number that is convinced enough to take the desired action, they pick up their inspiration either spontaneously, sporadically, or accidentally. Whilst the result is good, it is not yet wide enough and united enough. Leaders, especially Members of Parliament, and more so the Prime Minister, have the amazing opportunity of a default platform from which people will listen. Those of us who try to inspire don’t have that kind of platform. As I write this I am sitting on an armchair with a plywood straddling the arms of the chair like a tray in economy class on Fokker 100, in my little home surrounded by my kids yelling for my attention. Hardly the setting of a leader worth the attention of multitudes. These words will be published on a blog post that will be read by only a handful of people who have internet access. The multitudes will not read this. But they will give their attention when the Prime Minister speaks. Therein lies his true power and his greatest opportunity to trigger significant change. The power to speak to their hearts and instil in them a deep conviction. To convince them of a purpose and the need for their participation and action. To convince them to change their ways.
Papua New Guineans are feelers first, listeners second, seers third, believers fourth, and actors last. For the majority, reading is not even in that process, so I can only write to the few. For hundreds of generations we learned by listening and seeing. That mode of learning is still prevalent. To inspire them, our leaders (the ones whom we listen to by default) must speak words of wisdom, wrapped by the appropriate passion, and backed by their own actions. Just like our ancestors spent time by the fire to communicate ancient values through stories and justify their next courses of action and rallied action, our leaders must return to the fireside and speak to our hearts.
Don’t talk to us about policies and politics. We understand already that you need us to support your party and your policies. We will decide that going forward. What we need is to be convinced about what we need to do and why we need to do it – not just us the few, but us the multitude.
I have numerous times attended the Independence Day flag-raising ceremonies on Independence Hill, and heard Prime Ministers deliver their speeches, and have in all those times walked away disappointed. Disappointed primarily because apart from the great sense of pride and joy I feel in that atmosphere; my heart was not stirred. The excitement I experienced and observed in so many Papua New Guineans withered away only a few days after. I suppose it is because speech-writers felt a need to sell the government’s achievements rather than rally action. Our current Prime Minister is a great orator especially in Tok Pisin. He would do well to address the nation in Tok Pisin regularly on radio and television. He needs to be heard more than read. He has been described as a can-do PM. And I would agree in light of great leaps of faith he and his government have taken since taking office. With that backing he can speak about a can-do attitude of all Papua New Guineans. He could communicate the ability to dream big and be confident in one’s own abilities. To convince people to change their ways and attitude.
Perhaps we can take a hint from the movie Invictus, in which Mandela and Pienaar are discussing leadership and how to inspire others. Piennaar offers that it is too lead by example. Mandela replies “I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.” While these weren’t actual Mandela words, the movie script is accurate in principle. Our elders would tell stories of others to inspire action. Stories are universally impactful. Jesus used stories powerfully to communicate lessons and inspire action.
So speak. Speak of the envisioned future. The power of united action. Speak of a higher purpose. Speak to friends and families and individuals, not just subjects of a nation. Speak frequently and regularly. Not just once a year. But once a month and maybe every week. While this may seem like a big investment of time, I believe it is time well invested. Rallying people to action is priceless. It would be the most impactful means of bringing about the desired change in our nation.
