We are seeking for Leaders

New World: New Leadership
Vannarith Chheang
EWC-APLP 2008-2009

Changes are with us all the time and on a rapid speed. We could not escape from the global changes and risks. Better or worse we have to welcome and embrace them. We realize the uncertainties of the global political economy and security as we are living in a very interdependent world. Local events really have global implications. East Asian economies were enjoying economic miracle in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s before the Asian Financial crisis in 1997. No one would have predicted crisis could take place in an emerging economic epicenter of the world. The implications of that were widespread political instability and human security downgrading. The crisis made us to be aware of the global uncertainties. SARS and bird flu became another aspect of unstable globalization in which everyone of us is vulnerable to the disease infection. People movement is growing very fast beyond the control of nation state institution. Natural disasters have big global impacts such as Tsunami in Asia, Katrina in the US, storm in Burma, and earthquake in China. Global climate change has attracted world attention much greater than before. Through mass media and education, we start to learn more what is happening around us. Now the world leaders are working together shoulders to shoulders to cope with climate change. It is the first time in human history that we have such global consensus on a particular common issue such as climate change.
Currently we are facing with global financial crisis which started from the collapse of financial sectors in the US. This morning, September 30, 2008, the prices of stock market all around the world dropped dramatically. Financial investors are living in fear and uncertainties as ever seen. These are the realities of global interdependence. The complexities of global networks require effective tools and methods to deal with the unpredictable events/crisis. We keep thinking of what to do. Should we be panic? Should we take step backward and get out from the current global system?
The key to all these pressing concerns is “leadership”. Leadership is not the answer but the lack of leadership is a disaster. The world is facing with the lack of leadership. There is a hunger for compelling and creative leadership. Leaders must keep their mind open to change all the time. They must face it. Leaders are not heroes but they are not afraid of realities. They even bring realities to others/followers.
Several leadership models have been proposed by either scholars or policy makers. The models include adaptive leadership, invitational/participatory leadership, and moral leadership. Integrated these concepts into one word, we can call “liquid leadership” which means adaptive, reflective, engaged, flexible, soft power (humility, respect), transparent and accountable, dynamic, and down to earth. The liquid here generally means water which is very adaptive to the physical environment and taste. Water is global. We need water to survive.
As we are living in a melting pot type of social, cultural, political, and economic phenomenon, water is the instance that could accommodate all the ingredients. Water is a source of reflections not only for oneself but for the others. As leaders we should regularly look into the water and see ourselves (who we are). Water is used to predict the future (in some believes- we call magic water) which means leaders must be equipped with the ability to predict the future to see alternative futures. No one could break or cut the water. It means that leaders must be patient and strong but soft. Water is used to pray or give good lucks to others. During the New Year time in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, people spray water to their friends and relatives and strangers to wish them good luck and happiness. As a leader, we need to bring common goods or luck to the others.
The world is calling for liquid leadership. Leadership skill has to be changed to cope with new environment. We are living in diversity, uncertainties, and risks. We have to adapt ourselves to the new environment. We need to learn how to combine all intellectual forces to find more effective/better solutions for the common problem. Every individual has a potential to make a better world. Leadership does not necessary need authority but it requires participation and action.