Watching a recent talk show, my son observed that this was the exact opposite of the way I’d taught him to behave, and I felt ashamed. I wondered whether our politicians pay attention to how they appear to others. I yearned to ask them how they would explain their antics to their children and grandchildren.
I dream that someday Ukraine’s political elite will present themselves on par with their European peers – as well-spoken men and women with well-reasoned arguments who are approachable, open to compromise, and unafraid to act in support of the greater good.
In a word, I want them to be statesmanlike.
Business executives know that effective training helps build corporate reputations, win allies and sell more goods and services. Our politicians could take a page from that corporate training manual. I’d like to see politicians receive the same type of skills training that private enterprises are using to develop first-class executives. If they did, both they and the people they serve would ultimately benefit.
Ukraine needs a government leadership institute. Start with our regional politicians – the middle management of elective officeholders – and give them the skills and polish that foreign businessmen and politicians take for granted.
When we compare Ukraine’s average politician with his European counterpart, our men and women seem to be at a clear disadvantage. Our politicians are quick to show their least positive attributes at the least opportune times, like during news conferences and on television talk shows – not to mention in our city and oblast legislative chambers.
Ukraine’s leadership training institute could offer short courses for local and regional politicians, with more intensive training offered to higher-ranking deputies, ministerial officials and administrators.
With little money in the state budget for necessities like modern schools and social benefits, I see the institute funded by grants from Ukraine’s top business tycoons – the very people who fund the political parties. They will benefit most from a Ukrainian political Renaissance and the more welcoming, civilized attitude toward international business that would be engendered as a result.
The nation has no paucity of qualified educators – from our universities, to businesses and training companies – who would be delighted to serve our country by helping create more effective political leaders.
Graduates of the leadership institute would be able to communicate with peers in Europe and beyond and be accepted as equals. They would understand how to play the international game cleanly and how to use the methods and techniques created by business to work better.
Like any educational experience, students would be free to choose from courses they feel would be of greatest benefit, but a few classes would be compulsory. Required courses would include:
Presentation skills. This isn’t about how to use PowerPoint; it’s about training the mind to formulate thoughts clearly and adjust ideas to the audience being addressed.
We may admire the speeches of the presidents of the United States and European countries, but we seldom realize that each address was well-rehearsed and staged, with each detail groomed to create a complete presentation that appears authoritative and at the same time relaxed and natural.
Western politicians rely upon speechwriters to research and draft their presentations. They make extensive use of speech coaches and other specialists in various disciplines. Gestures are rehearsed, clothing is carefully selected, and each inflection is carefully calculated to achieve the desired emotional effect.
Communications skills. Our politicians can talk, of course, but they require active listening skills, the ability to ask precise, insightful questions, and the ability to identify their adversary’s communication style. The ability to adapt their style to their adversary’s will help them to communicate more successfully.
They can be taught how to cultivate trust by establishing eye contact, and how to use vocal nuance, body movement and hand gestures to increase the effectiveness of the words they speak. They need to be encouraged to be polite.
Problem-solving and decision-making. This course has long been a corporate training staple. It helps the student to clearly identify problems and find more effective methods of resolving them.
Business leaders understand how to identify and distinguish problems from symptoms, then find and apply effective resolution methods. There are also decision-making models that help make implementing decisions easier.
Leadership and team building. This training acknowledges that leadership is not something to be taken by force, but rather is conferred by the people. Teams create leaders. Managing a team starts with inspiring the team. This training helps politicians select the right people for their teams, to build more effective teams and to establish the team on a foundation of trust, mutual understanding, shared goals and a common system of values.
Most large companies offer training and development programs on at least an annual basis. A government leadership institute, working across all branches and levels of government, can do the same.
Ukrainians have the innate ability to excel in business, sport, and academia. I believe that this same ability can extend to a more highly developed political system as well. We need not – and should not – look to the international development community to guide us. We have the ability, expertise and money that is required.
Do we have the will, though?
If we do, the dream may yet be realized.
Areta Beliakova is director of Door Ukraine, which provides business training services. She can be reached at [email protected]
