The role of leaders in a changing world
by Gamini T Pandikorala
What we hear from the four corners of the world is that the planet
earth is full of natural and man-made resources.
New discoveries and IT revolutions increasing rapidly are adequate to
make this planet a paradise. Leading religions appear among the oldest
resources and they are in competition to help the humans to achieve
perfection. Yet we see no end to violence against the weak which
includes women, children, the old and the poor.
The violence among religious and political groups in many countries
appear to be disgraceful. The situation has developed to a point paving
the way for the emergence of a network of leaders to save the world. Can
it be the next in the line of paradigm shifts the world has already
witnessed?
 Amidst the threat of a nuclear war the time is opportune and running
out fast for all leaders to observe these glaring facts. The writers who
are now getting established as leaders should come to the forefront of
the journey to achieve world peace and prosperity.
The advantage they have over other leaders (CEOs, proprietors and
industrialists) is that their ability to get networked faster in the
nature of their profession. What all leaders should realise first is
that the entire wealth of resources in the world, developed as well as
undeveloped and unexploited belongs to all human beings living on this
planet. All of us are born to the mother earth.
Who can deny the fact that the milk we sucked, warmth we felt as
infants from our second mother came from the soil and the atmosphere of
earth respectively? All nations, Sri Lankans, Indians, Americans English
and Africans then become members of one family.
What better example can one think of to feel the sense of common
humanity. With so much of wealth available to us aren’t we like beggars
sitting on pots of gold? Even the leading nations in Europe and America
should feel same way as they too are not aware of their inner power to
be realised only through inner journey.
Truth
We are the proud owners of this truth available in Asia which we must
share with everybody on this planet. If these facts are absorbed by all
human beings free of any prejudice it becomes the prime duty of all
governments to provide a space/land and shelter to all humans of this
planet.
The governments that cannot do it should be helped by other
governments in the richer parts of the world.
Accepting liability is by those super powers would be sufficient for
people to feel that they are born to this mother earth to enjoy
available facilities to work and develop together as brothers and
sisters in a global family. This understanding will have the effect of
changing the world amazingly.
The cessation of terrorist activities will become a reality. World
peace will prevail as no country will think of war among humans who are
really children of one mother.
This should not be a mere idea but a target to be attempted through
‘inner journey’ described below.
Now there is a task for all writers who as you know world has
identified as influential leaders. (if you serf the net you can see the
research progressing in this regard. Writers have been forerunners of
historic revolutions.)
As a soft beginning can all writers (in any field) incorporate a
message into all their writings? The idea that the message should carry
continuously in a suitable manner is: ‘all humans are born to this
mother earth and therefore entitled to live in any part of this planet.
Religious leaders
It’s the responsibility of all governments of the world cooperating
with each other to provide a space and shelter for all humans.’
Further they can add that all varieties of resources including all
rules and regulations created by states, contents of all religious books
shall blend together naturally in the minds of the people for this
purpose.
Result is the teachings of all religious leaders not only will blend
together but also get summarised to avoid repetitions, facilitating easy
comprehension. This will be operative instantaneously the moment the
idea enters the heads of leaders and their followers. These changes will
record not in the original books and documents but in the minds of
leaders who are spearheaded by writers and their followers. Combined and
unauthenticated writings for a good cause with the power of the network
of writers will undoubtedly be supported and respected by eight billion
odd world population.
This is the background to commence the ‘inner journey for
self-exploration which will end up in finding out the behaviour of the
imaginary self. When there is no observer/doer all objects become non
existent.
The truth and the secret behind this you will find for yourself on
the inner journey. Peter R Scholtes internationally known author says in
his book Leader’s Handbook that the leaders must go an inch wide and a
mile deep. Is this the depth the visionary thinker Peter Drucker tries
to show in his book ‘Management Challenges for the 21st Century’ where
he says (page no 74-75) ‘the first policy - and the foundation for all
the others - is to abandon yesterday.
In fact, it is not possible to create tomorrow unless one sloughs off
yesterday.’ Referring to an old product, service, market or process he
says usually they are not ‘dying’;they are dead.’ Our ‘inner journey’ in
wisdom of Asia helps us to see the non existing world on display as
shadows there by gaining ability serve with utmost integrity and build
the new world creatively. We said the world is full of resources which
are adequate to create the new world. With this understanding you can
find plenty of avenues to commence a journey to achieve various targets
of your own.
Being satisfied that we belong to the planet earth with the right to
inherit our basic needs to live, you need to operate from the place
where you are domiciled. Our CEOs playing an important leadership role
in this country can turn towards International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO) to grab a wonderful opportunity to develop their
organisations and in the process to eradicate poverty in this country.
This capability is found in the recently issued (2010) ISO 26000
standard, resulted from a process over a period of nine years. A large
number of countries have been involved (majority from developing
countries) in this process. The authorities remark that ‘the standard is
good enough to help meet challenges of a changing world’. At the moment
local companies are engaged in doing charity work using the term
‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ but much more benefits can be gained
from this unique standard which functions as a guidance standard, not a
certifiable standard. This is one of the opportunities available for
leaders in this country specially the business leaders to change this
country in to a paradise and make a contribution towards a paradigm
shift in the world as well.
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