Thursday, May 01, 2008

Accountability

We do realize that accountability is important. Inevitably, it is pivotal for a leader, who had failed the mass in an occasion, to clear the heaps and pick up from where he fell. However, it is more crucial to review whether he or she is really capable enough to dismiss the gloomy sky.

In the corporate world, we had seen how former Citibank CEO threw in the white flag when the bank wrote down billions of losses in the subprime fiasco. In any case, was he given a chance to pick up from he fell? The answer is no. Simply because he had lost not just billions in asset but more crucially, he had lost the faith of the public, of the board and directors. While it is a painful and seemingly irresponsible decision to quit, there is a need for the organization to shrug off the debris with a call for change in management. The change will definitely re-energize the team and the public as it symbolizes a new start amidst the glooms and fears. Be it that the leader might had tones of credentials and a good and clean track record to back him up, he of such calibre is expected to be infallible. Not to discount the fact that the one at large now is a high profile terrorist.

In the Singapore context, we have no resources but tonnes and tonnes of human talents. No one is indispensable to any organization and thus, by retaining him in his current position, we will be sending out the message to the public that “hey, sorry to Singaporeans, we do not have a suitable candidate at the moment. However, we are always looking out for a suitable one!”. To me, a true good leader is someone like our current health minister Mr Khor Boon Haw. He always displays such compassion and fervor to his job, and is a true epitome of true leadership. He also led Singapore in the victorious battle against SARS and that had also demonstrated how a good leader leads in adversity.

Accountability versus Restoration of faith and confidence? It is up to the people? Or just up to the people in control?