Every citizen has a role to play in their country’s governance whether or not they are involved in active politics. Some of the ways to be involved include keeping their government accountable, participating in democratic processes and even staying informed. For some people however being involved means becoming actively involved in their country’s politics, especially by seeking political leadership positions. In Kenya, most of the people seeking leadership positions are usually transitioning from the corporate world. If you are one of those considering an elective position, here is what you need to know about the transition from the corporate world into politics.
One of the things to know is that political leadership is not easy. You must be ready to encounter as many challenges as you will opportunities. This then calls for intense preparation. One of the things to do is to source for capital. Unless you are lucky to receive an appointment into a ministerial position or you are nominated into office, political leadership positions require that you battle it out with other candidates at the ballot box. Convincing voters that you are the right candidate is a capital-intensive process and you need to be prepared with the necessary funds.
Besides funds, there are also other things that make a political leader. For example, to become a good leader, you must be a strategic thinker. This means that you are able to set goals and identify the factors that can hinder or facilitate the achievement of those goals. Needless to say, being a political leader means that most of your goals must benefit the people that you benefit. This means that you must understand the community you represent. You must have ties to the grassroots level since this is the only way you will understand the challenges and needs that the people you seek to represent have.
To be a political leader you must be a visionary. You must be able to see a future for your community and craft a path through which you can lead them to that future. You must be able to inspire hope, especially in the current world where hope is rare. Your manifesto must present solutions to the challenges presented. The solutions you present must be realistic, or else you will lose the trust of the community whose votes you seek.
The other thing that you need to do is build a team. The transition from the corporate world to the political arena can be a tough journey and you need people that can take some of the weight off your shoulders. You need people to run your communications, your finances, and your schedule among other things. Doing all these by yourself will be overwhelming.
Moreover, you must have some understanding of politics. This will help understand the structures in place. It will also help you form alliances and build bridges, which can be very helpful during and after the campaign period. Also, since politics tend to be very dirty at times, having allies can help soften the blows that you may receive. It also goes without saying that you must be resilient or you will drop out of the race at the first sight of confrontation or false accusation.
There is a need for collaboration across sectors and even geographical location
Most of the time during campaigns is spent talking to people. As a result, you must be a good communicator. You must be able to pass your message clearly to the people you are wooing. Beyond that, you must try and be a good orator so that your points can resonate with your audience and so that you can keep them engaged as they listen to you.
Political leadership also requires that you are authentic. An authentic leader is genuine and trustworthy- one who keeps their promises and is open to criticism and correction. Authentic leaders are also empathetic and can relate to some of the challenges that their constituents are facing. Such leaders can connect with their constituents on a much deeper level. Political leadership also needs decisive people, who can make decisions at the spur of the moment and who can boldly stand up for their decisions regardless of the forces against these decisions. Just like corporate leadership, political leadership demands that elected leaders are adaptable and flexible. The world keeps changing and evolving daily. If you are to make a good leader, you must always be up-to-date with what is going on. You must also endeavor to pursue self-development and use whatever tools are available to you for decision-making and problem-solving.
Even as you transition into a political career, ensure that you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Stick to your strengths and use them as your main selling points. Also, make sure that whatever leadership position you are eyeing in politics aligns with your strengths and can benefit from the skills you gained from the corporate world.
While you can gain or learn most of the skills above, political leadership is no mean feat. When the times get tough, the skills may not be enough to carry you through. Therefore, it is important that you only pursue political leadership for the right reasons. Remember that above all, political leadership is about those who voted for you. Therefore, ensure that seeking that leadership position is a calling to serve people more than it is about power or wealth
Jedidah Nguyo is a writer with Management Magazine
