Photo by Ono Kosuki

Going beyond the writing of Haiti: Between Pestilence and Hope, learn more about leadership development with Fritznel D. Octave and why it’s important for good governance to happen.

Good leadership is essential for good governance to become a reality. There has never been an example in the long history of humankind wherein a prosperous country comes about due to the actions of a country that severely lacks good leadership. It is with good leadership that a stable and efficient government is created. Only with the presence of good leadership can the needs and concerns of the citizenry be adequately addressed. 

Cutting the Gordian Knot

How does a good leader contribute to good governance, you might ask. Let us then remember the Story of the Gordian Knot. 

In Greek folklore, there was said to be a very complex and intricate knot tied to an oxcart in the city of Gordium, which was then peopled by the Phrygians. According to contemporary legends at the time, it was said that whosoever could untie the knot would have the mandate to rule all of Asia (which was then a name that only covered modern-day Turkey, the Middle East, and India).

Hundreds of people traveled to Gordium, trying to untie the knot over the years. Yet, no one found even a semblance of success–no one until 333 BC, when Alexander the Great, already in his campaign to conquer Asia, stopped by the ancient city. 

When Alexander saw the knot, he realized that it couldn’t be undone in the traditional way. So, he wisely drew his sword out and cut the impossible Gordian knot in half.

After, he conquered much of the known world at that time.

It is impossible to say whether it was his cutting of the Gordian knot that contributed to his successful campaign of conquest, but his method for solving the issue was, nonetheless, indicative of good leadership and a very broad and cunning mind. Whether it can be said that the Gordian knot played a substantive role or not, it is certain that without his thinking, Alexander the Great could never have conquered Asia.

Good Leadership and Good Governance

While often intertwined, leadership is not about simply having power or authority. It is about having the will and charisma to inspire and motivate people, leading them towards a common goal. 

Good leadership means knowing how to communicate effectively, make sound decisions, and create a lasting vision of where the future might go.

For any organization (e.g., a country) to prosper, there must be efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Good governance in a country means providing essential goods and services to the citizenry, which necessarily includes healthcare, education, infrastructure, freedom, and security. If a country possesses all these, the population is more likely to be happier and more productive than its neighbors. 

Thus, if good governance is to be realized, there must be good leadership at the stand to steer the government towards its goals of stability and prosperity. 

Good leadership involves establishing and executing policies that strive to promote economic growth while also maintaining a proper level of social welfare that encompasses the majority of the citizenry. While a new factor, environmental sustainability is also important. It is only with these in mind that good governance can effectively manage resources and create a fair and just society.

Good leadership and good governance go hand in hand. Without a good leader who has a better vision for their country and inspires those around them to work towards that possibility, there is no one and no institution that can bear the necessary responsibilities.

Thus, if a good country is to exist, there needs to be good governance. If there is to be good governance, there must be good leadership.

Learn more about leadership development with Fritzenl D. Octave and get to know his perspectives and insights in Haiti: Between Pestilence and Hope and his seminars.