Whilst we await our collective fate with a General Election just a few days away, I am thinking about how things could possibly be any worse than they are. We seem to be sailing, like a rudderless ship, into the oblivion. In my opinion, we seem to have the worst selection of party leaders ever. We haven’t got a clue as to who is telling the truth. There is a disease of blame, which is nasty, brutish and short. What has happened to the good things our country once stood for?! So, I want to give our politicians some advice as to how they can inspire us. How can they regain our trust? How can they make Britain ‘Great’ once more? And what better model to choose than the 7 habits of Highly Effective Politicians. Habit 1 Be proactive Take complete and utter responsibility for everything and anything you say and do. It’s about accepting that you have a choice to take, so take the positive one. Choose the right attitude, and surround yourself with like-minded people. Habit 2 Begin with the end in mind We seem to be stuck in a cycle of perpetual short-termism. We need you to think positively about what we want the future to look like, and then you can begin to set realistic targets, goals and dreams on how to get there. Habit 3 Put first things first We need you to focus on the important things in life, like building effective relationships, both home and abroad. Many of you have become rude, arrogant and pig-headed. So, start thinking about the collective United Kingdom, and not just about scoring cheap points off of each other…it doesn’t make anyone look good. Habit 4 Think win-win Make sure that any interaction you have leaves all parties feeling that they have got something out of the transaction. Put aside your differences, think about all of the voters, and take in to consideration the best of what we all want. Habit 5 Seek first to understand, then be understood Put aside your prejudices, biases, pre-conceived ideas etc. Stop and listen to others from THEIR perspective. If you were truly able to do this, then you might do the RIGHT thing, and not just something that meets your short-term goals. Habit 6 Synergy Accept that we are not all the same, and that’s good! We ALL have something to contribute to the debate, to society, to our future. Let’s genuinely learn from each other; see a different perspective; create a more holistic result. After all, it’s our future you are playing with. Habit 7 Sharpen the saw Learn from the past. Focus on the genuinely good things you have to offer. Stop making promises you can’t possibly fulfil. And take us to a better place than we find ourselves in today…..PLEASE!
