Quote
“Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly
virtues shoot” Thomas More (1477-1535)
News
Last week Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis, head of
1.2 billion Roman Catholics; the following day, Xi Jinping assumed the presidency
of China, a nation of 1.3 billion people.
Two new leaders have stepped onto the world stage, one spiritual, one
political.
Xi is a ‘princeling’, born into a political elite and groomed
for leadership; his authority is based on being head of the Communist party and
commander-in-chief of China’s armed forces.
Francis came from a working class, immigrant family and rose through the
ranks of the church; his authority is expressed mainly through his example and
teaching.
Both men want to show they are in touch with ordinary
people. President Xi recently visited a poor
village, chatting to peasant farmers and tasting their food. The new Pope has a long track record of
solidarity with the poor; consistent with this, he will celebrate mass on Maundy
Thursday in a juvenile prison in Rome, where he will wash the feet of 12 young
offenders.
Xi Jinping seeks to reform China’s economy, making growth
more green and more equitable, and clamping down on corruption. Pope Francis likewise needs to reform the
Catholic Church, which is still weakened by its handling of sex abuse charges
and revelations of corruption inside the Vatican.
The Chinese president has a transactional leadership style in
an authoritarian political system, so change will be imposed from the top down,
and compliance achieved through rewards and punishments. In contrast, the new Pope leads relationally,
and his radical humility quietly challenges attitudes, and inspires people to relate
differently towards others.
Who has more power, the President or the Pope? And whose reforms will bring the deeper, more
lasting change? Might it all hinge on
their approach to leadership and relational skills?
Read on…
Read Jim Collins’ classic article in Harvard Business Review about ‘Level
5 leaders’ – those rare people who combine deep humility and fierce resolve in
order to lead an organisation from good to great – here.
Walk the talk
Humility and a firm resolve are valuable for every kind of leader; which
of these two do you need to cultivate more?
The last word
From the Bible, 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 3: “Don't lord it over the
people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”
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