The art of leadership
David Shearer may have won the caucus battle but he still has a long haul before winning the war. On Tuesday 20th November, Labour Members of Parliament endorsed David Shearer as the Labour leader against David Cunliffe. The latter was stripped of his leading position in the party and all his portfolios.
The demotion followed a weekend of Cunliffe dodging questions at the annual Labour conference about whether he sought to challenge the leadership of the party. Shearer stated that while he did not want to take such action, he had no choice but to do so as the other David had shown very little respect for the party and its leader.
Shearer stated that while he did not want to take such action, he had no choice but to do so as the other David had shown very little respect for the party and its leader. The opposition leader did however state that Cunliffe may regain his position and respect by showing great loyalty to the party. Despite his demotion however, Cunliffe may still give Shearer a run for his leadership position come February at the Labour leader confidence vote. The new party rule requires a leadership contest to be held if 40 per cent of the party refuses to support the leader.
The support from the caucus came of the back of the sea of doubt Shearer has been facing in the media for past six months in relation to his demeanour and lack of experience. The media has been pitting him against Cunliffe who held a prominent position under the Clark government.
The latter has been using his experience and his Harvard education in persuading businessmen to accept Labour’s capital gains tax plans over that of Bill English and National’s during last year’s Mood of the Boardroom debate last year.
In addition to this, he is the polar opposite of Shearer in the sense that he is clear, aggressive and experienced both in the business world and the political sphere. All this said however, Shearer does have something that Cunliffe doesn’t – a simple, likeable air. Everyone wants to believe in him and his leadership. Nevertheless, he has been sloppy on the issues and a forgettable at the podium.
Machiavelli said, in his legendary book The Prince, that it is better to be a respected leader than a loved one. Cunliffe has already established that to an extent and it is fear of a divided party that is mainly keeping him from being leader.
Shearer needs to aspire to follow Machiavelli’s direction. If he is also loved in the process, that is a bonus. Labour would not have called a confidence vote if 100 per cent of party supported Shearer. So it can be easily reasoned that there will indeed be a fight over the next two months for the leadership if not overtly, then through the media and public appearances.
If Shearer wants to keep his position, he needs to hire a public speaking specialist and sort out his public persona working especially on impromptu answers and unscripted speeches. In addition to this Shearer must also match Cunliffe’s experience withthorough knowledge of the issues and a determined manner. As Sun Tzu writes, in The Art of War, never underestimate your enemy.
It surely wouldn’t hurt for him to read The Prince and The Art of War.
David Shearer may have won the caucus battle but he still has a long haul before winning the war. On Tuesday 20th November, Labour Members of Parliament endorsed David Shearer as the Labour leader against David Cunliffe. The latter was stripped of his leading position in the party and all his...
David Shearer may have won the caucus battle but he still has a long haul before winning the war. On Tuesday 20th November, Labour Members of Parliament endorsed David Shearer as the Labour leader against David Cunliffe. The latter was stripped of his leading position in the party and all his portfolios.
The demotion followed a weekend of Cunliffe dodging questions at the annual Labour conference about whether he sought to challenge the leadership of the party. Shearer stated that while he did not want to take such action, he had no choice but to do so as the other David had shown very little respect for the party and its leader.
Shearer stated that while he did not want to take such action, he had no choice but to do so as the other David had shown very little respect for the party and its leader. The opposition leader did however state that Cunliffe may regain his position and respect by showing great loyalty to the party. Despite his demotion however, Cunliffe may still give Shearer a run for his leadership position come February at the Labour leader confidence vote. The new party rule requires a leadership contest to be held if 40 per cent of the party refuses to support the leader.
The support from the caucus came of the back of the sea of doubt Shearer has been facing in the media for past six months in relation to his demeanour and lack of experience. The media has been pitting him against Cunliffe who held a prominent position under the Clark government.
The latter has been using his experience and his Harvard education in persuading businessmen to accept Labour’s capital gains tax plans over that of Bill English and National’s during last year’s Mood of the Boardroom debate last year.
In addition to this, he is the polar opposite of Shearer in the sense that he is clear, aggressive and experienced both in the business world and the political sphere. All this said however, Shearer does have something that Cunliffe doesn’t – a simple, likeable air. Everyone wants to believe in him and his leadership. Nevertheless, he has been sloppy on the issues and a forgettable at the podium.
Machiavelli said, in his legendary book The Prince, that it is better to be a respected leader than a loved one. Cunliffe has already established that to an extent and it is fear of a divided party that is mainly keeping him from being leader.
Shearer needs to aspire to follow Machiavelli’s direction. If he is also loved in the process, that is a bonus. Labour would not have called a confidence vote if 100 per cent of party supported Shearer. So it can be easily reasoned that there will indeed be a fight over the next two months for the leadership if not overtly, then through the media and public appearances.
If Shearer wants to keep his position, he needs to hire a public speaking specialist and sort out his public persona working especially on impromptu answers and unscripted speeches. In addition to this Shearer must also match Cunliffe’s experience withthorough knowledge of the issues and a determined manner. As Sun Tzu writes, in The Art of War, never underestimate your enemy.
It surely wouldn’t hurt for him to read The Prince and The Art of War.
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