Sometimes I feel sorry for our Prime Minister. As I have for previous prime ministers. It is very difficult for leaders to please all the people all the time, or even most people some of the time.

And Prime Minister is a very public leadership role, requiring a plethora of skills. Notably to withstand the slings and arrows of out and out misfortune. Some caused by one’s own actions but often not. The public mood swings with floods, inflationary pressures, pandemics, and fuel costs.

Each of us bring to that word ‘leader’ a whole bunch of expectations and presumptions. There was a time when being a woman was an automatic exclusion – whether in politics, business, or the church. Still is in some places. Or being young. Or having a disability. Or being pregnant.

When it comes to the word ‘leader’ we are each shaped by our prejudices and experiences. In some neighbourhoods a leader is a CEO, with business nous and affability. In some neighbourhoods a leader is a school teacher or union organizer, with people skills and confidence. In some neighbourhoods a politician needs to be in a suit, in other neighbourhoods definitely not.

When it comes to leadership – whether evaluating a current one or seeking a new one - we project our presumptions outwards.

It is very amusing to read how some churches (usually of a fundamentalist bent) try to squeeze Jesus into their ideal leader mold. He becomes not only the inspirational teacher and super pastor, but the superlative strategist planning for world evangelization.

Whereas the Bible stories of Jesus point to him being largely a disrupter. Who left his familial property and responsibilities, and didn’t marry or have children. Who didn’t buy into the master/disciple patronage system (developing a base, clientele, and income), and instead was itinerant and dependent. Who flagrantly broke with conventions, largely in order to include the ‘losers’ of his day.  Who didn’t curry favour with religious and political elites. Which would be the death of him.

Scholars still wonder why a religion in his name survived.

And over the long history of Christianity there are many examples of leadership being quite different from that which we carry in our heads and project out upon prime ministers, ministers, and leaders generally. Some have been quite otherworldly and impractical, some brilliant and grumpy, some quiet and nurturing, and some thoroughly nice yet labelled ineffective.

The truth is that there are as many types of leaders as there are people.

Another truth is that every politician I’ve met over the years, of whatever party, have been wanting to make life better, to improve the wellbeing of the community.

And another truth is that our expectations/presumptions of leaders, particularly in the political world, can destroy them. And their families.

So, I’m grateful for whoever puts their hand up to stand up for public office in New Zealand. It can be an exhausting and discouraging job. I’m grateful too for the variety of leaders who are now in our parliament, reflecting something of the breadth of our nation’s evolving understanding of leadership. And I’m grateful too for those who take on the mantle of Prime Minister, and all the criticism that comes with that office and the inevitable fumbles (or worse) office-bearers make.

Glynn

(Photo: Prime Minister Luxon, from his Facebook page)