Julia Middleton's Thoughts on Leadership » Leader

Leaders through the lens

Julia Middleton — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:58:38 +0000

So the first of the great televised debates for the top political job in the UK takes place tonight, and I am wondering which lens we should all be watching it through…

Shall we focus on what these three men have to say on policy? Or the issues? Or will we scrutinise their competency? Or the strength of their ambition?

To me – above all – the focus should be on leadership. Who do we think will be the best leader with the best team?

The UK is in quite a mess. No secret there. We can get out of its mess, but the danger is that we will slide and all the difference will rest on the brave decisions and the national mood one of these three people will create.

We have huge assets for such a small country – in land mass and population – compared to existing and emerging world powers. But we will have to play a clever game to succeed…and to continue to prosper.

So what will I be looking for as I switch on the telly tonight? The leader with some policies I’m sure to disagree with. The one to lift a country from the recession blues and give it confidence. The leader who names the beast, who doesn’t pretend that there is no mess to speak of and confronts the hard questions. The one who can attract and keep talent around him and ensure they perform at their best. The one who speaks in a way that makes you listen.

Some one asked – Why should anyone be led by you

Julia Middleton — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:13:48 +0000

There is an interesting discussion on the Common Purpose LinkedIn group encouraging us to be brave enough to answer the question “Why should anyone be led by you?” – not an easy one. How would you answer it?

In the discussion there is the suggestion that you should think about whether you are consistent in your leadership. Would it be the same answer at home and at work for example…and specifically with your partner? The thought that my husband would ever let me lead him (or indeed that he would ever attempt to lead me) makes me laugh!

Leaders need to be aware of and respect cultural differences

Julia Middleton — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:26:13 +0000

I was brought up to have no respect for any position, age, background or title. My father told me that no one was better than me other than as a result of their ability, experience, achievements or character. At best people like this in me, and at worst they think my lack of deference is downright rude.

I went to a lunch with that Morgan Tsvangirai , who was in London as part of his “European Safari.” He tried to explain just how impossible it is in his culture for the young to challenge an old man. He said that it was simply inconceivable, and so deeply disrespectful as to be unthinkable.

I tried so hard to understand. The expression “Respect your elders” was almost a tease in my childhood home and has never been used in my own family. My children would laugh me out of the house.

It is such a deep, deep difference. While I am in China, I need to keep it at the front of my mind or I will appear rude.

Confident Leadership

Julia Middleton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:12:47 +0000

A couple of weeks ago, I spent the day with several Egyptians. None of them saw Obama in person – they had been told not to go out on their balcony or even look out of their window as his motorcade went past – but they heard his speech and told me with delight, “It’s a different America now”.

The difference that strong, confident leadership produces is wonderful and its biggest impact can be on the leader; a leader who does not need to resort to arrogance or bullying from a distance to express themselves.

In quarantine with swine flu

Julia Middleton — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:37:34 +0000

Strange how the world suddenly stops. Someone needs you totally; someone you care for dies. Suddenly, the vast action list of the morning becomes irrelevant.

Nothing like this has happened, but I am in quarantine – my son has swine flu! So people with masks over their faces come and check us out at home, and we arrange for the children who are not at home to stay with friends.

It is good as a leader to be reminded how the world spins on fine without you (except that my colleagues are carrying the load). I may feel less positive when I feel like Tom does tomorrow, but it’s only flu.

Twenty years of change

Julia Middleton — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:53:45 +0000

Tiananmen Square was twenty years ago this week. How the world – and China – have changed. The symbol for me was the earthquake last year when the Chinese government opened its reporting to foreign journalists. Over the last few months we have been talking to many leaders in China about whether we could start Common Purpose there and I believe that it increasingly makes sense . The sheer talent in China and the hunger of Chinese leaders to learn FROM people all over the world seems finally to be almost – not quite yet but almost – equalled by the rest of the worlds wish to learn at least ABOUT China. I hope that Common Purpose in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, as a first step, is around the corner, then with luck Shanghai.

Hitting 50

Julia Middleton — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:29:40 +0000

I hit 50 today.

That’s 50 people I have met in the last seven days who have told me that they plan to “sit tight” through the recession. And they call themselves leaders!

Their assumption is:

it will get back to where it was
it’s just a question of waiting
that they have no role to play
that all will be ok in the end.

I fear for the UK. All 50 have been in Britain.

“The Apprentice” – some say it's good TV, but what does it say about leadership?

Julia Middleton — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:29:50 +0000

It seemed sad that for many years TV was never interested in producing anything about leadership. Finally in the UK there is a programme that addresses a lot of the issues. It has a huge following, ratings are soaring, no-one wants to miss an episode…it’s “The Apprentice”.

Sometimes I feel like the only person in Britain who won’t watch it is me. It promotes a view of leadership that makes my heart break, the kind of leadership that got us into the mess we are currently in.

Few values are in evidence, there is endless bullying (and bullying being contagious, everyone seems to bully everyone else) and relentless one-upmanship. It’s more like “how to manage a playground full of teenagers in hysterics” than how to be a leader (actually, this is unfair on teenagers – they do have hysterics sometimes, but most of the time they are far more rational, generous and decent than this lot seem to be).

I must be honest and say that I have written this after watching about ten minutes in an airport lounge. The ten minutes I saw confirmed my early views, but maybe it was an unlucky ten minutes and there is something helpful in The Apprentice. But from the discussions I hear about it, I doubt it. It makes good TV, but it gives leadership an even worse name at a time when it really does not need it.