Promise makers and promise keepers

As we welcome a new President and bid farewell and Godspeed to the former, it is well worth to consider the lessons that are there for the picking in terms of leadership, promises and expectations.

The first thing I can think of is that one general promise for 100 million demanding Filipinos will never be enough. The flagship of the past administration was the “SS Battleship Corruption” and it seemed impressive as it was used against Gloria Arroyo and Chief Justice Renato Corona. Then the ship turned on Senators Enrile, Estrada and Revilla. But from there it sailed on uncharted waters, got stranded on the shoals of PDAF and DAP and was finally beached on the corrals of the DOTC and PNP Chief Purisima. It seems that those running the SS Battleship Corruption were not willing to fire upon their own.

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Leaders must “go to the board” and write down who or where their many customers or clients are and try to know what is the most critical or most needed service, program or commitment that the government, the company or the Manager can provide. Figure out who were the noisiest or angriest customers in the last administration: Commuters, Consumers, Disaster victims, Crime victims, Media, government employees, business and agricultural stakeholders. One promise or one battle will not meet everyone’s expectations or needs. Set up a short-term (six months, quick and immediate) goal, a medium term project (achievable in two years) and a long-term goal that would be turned over to the next administration in 2022.

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Your moral high ground is like a sophisticated weapon or high caliber gun; it is only useful if you are willing to use it even against your own people if they are corrupt. Moral high ground quickly erodes if you make mud balls out of it to throw at your enemies. Sooner or later you will be dirty and will be in a pit not a mound.

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Governance is still about uniting people and not about “divide and conquer.” Through the six years of the past administration what many realized is that for every pro-PNoy supporter, there was one anti-PNoy or Pro-something else. Just like in Thailand, we in the Philippines were separated by politics and political color. Camps and colors simply highlighted and magnified our division. In the end, the politics and colors became obsolete as an overwhelming majority decided they wanted change not division, not colors, not politics. Eerily, Thailand ended up with a “Strong Man” in the form of a General and a military takeover. In the Philippines, we now have a Strong Man whose influence and persuasion is clearly forceful.

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All those who would lead must take to heart the lesson: “Move forward and don’t blame backwards”. You can only blame others for a limited time and for limited reasons, but you cannot blame others for what is clearly your responsibility or your fault because ultimately doing so will erode your credibility and whatever strength remains in you as a leader. People may be tolerant but they are not stupid. Worst of all, leaders who use “Blame” as an excuse or justification for their own shortcomings, unwittingly set the standard or example for others to use or to follow. If my boss can do it so can I.

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If there was one big area of “fail” in the past administration it would have to be their “Failure to Manage Expectations.” If anything they tended to over promise like when they promoted PPP or the Public-Private-Partnership program as a quick, easy and instant solution to the country’s infrastructure needs. It took the government three years to launch the program and they refused to admit that they knew it would take three years.

The anti-corruption campaign was over promised. The campaign only applied to political enemies and not across the board in government or society and yet that was suppose to be their biggest promise and to this last week of their six years, all we have are political “POWs” charged but no one sentenced. As far as economics and quality of life was concerned, the past administration fed the general public numbers, statistics, and glowing reviews of investment houses that are doing business in the Philippines. But none of it addressed “contractualization,” under employment, under payment of salaries, etc. Because of all that, Filipinos learned and understood the meaning of the terms “Inclusive growth” versus “Exclusive growth.”

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On the positive side, PNoy was a living example that leaders must be prepared to go it alone, to be unpopular if need be, if one is to pursue change or challenge the impossible. Time and again PNoy grit his teeth and bore the burden of state as well as unpopular decisions. He vetoed bills that he did not believe in, he stood by his principles or personal beliefs even if he knew it would reap criticism and leave him misunderstood, even isolated. PNoy has taught many that “Game changers” are not always popular, often misunderstood.”

Perhaps the one true legacy and lesson that PNoy leaves us was making us “Believe.” He made us believe in the small things as well as the big, seemingly impossible things. PNoy made us realize that we can fight against the abuses of elected and appointed officials who abuse privilege on the road and in office. He made us believe that we can wage war against corruption and although a crew of incompetents grounded the “SS Battleship Corruption,” we can still sail it manned by “We The People.” He brought some measure of respect to the Philippines and the Filipinos. For this we must be thankful; that we had a President imperfect as he was who believed that good would triumph over evil.

Thank you President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Godspeed and God Bless.