Theresa May is standing on the edge of a glass-cliff.
The glass cliff is a phenomenon whereby women get assigned to a role of leadership during periods of crisis or downturn, when the chances of failure are at the highest. In her case, when the conservative party had ‘right royally’ screwed things up (my opinion of course), they decided to put a woman in charge to ‘do something different’.
The problem with that approach is that unless the female leader is truly different, they will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Putting a woman in charge, when they have been raised to lead in a typically ‘male’ way will ultimately result in failure because the world at large will not only judge them on their leadership, but they will also consciously or unconsciously be judged on how we think a woman should behave.
Today, if we look around the globe there are several CEO’s, leaders and politicians that are pursuing a certain type of leadership whereby they:
- Stop listening to the people they represent and are solely influenced by other people that pursue their own agenda
- Don’t collaborate and they think they know best regardless of the evidence in front of them
- Pursue their own agenda at the detriment of all others
- Build walls rather than set clear boundaries
- Pursue the goal at all costs and don’t stop to check whether the goal that they are hurtling towards is the right one
- Don’t want people to express their opinions (especially if they contradict with their view)
- Operate autocratically and not democratically
The world seems to be polarised in a binary way of thinking. Right or wrong. Man or woman. Black or white. Remain or leave. The truth is that things are not either-or, there is a whole spectrum in between the polarities.
When we make a decision at a certain point in time, we can then change our minds when new facts arise. People used to believe that the world was flat, or that it was impossible to run a mile in less than four minutes. Now we know different.
Our perspectives and opinions can shift. This can happen in a nanosecond or over a lifetime. For example:
- If you buy a house and the survey comes back with costly work that needs to be done you get a chance to either re-negotiate or decide against buying (even if you have spent time and money pursuing the purchase of that property).
- If you ask for a divorce and you decide to get counselling to see if you can rectify your issues then there is an opportunity to change your mind and design a different future together, or you can still choose to get a divorce.
- If you fall out with a member of your family and in the heat of the moment declare “I am never going to talk to you again”, there is usually an option for reconciliation if you are open to a discussion and can set new boundaries for your relationship, or not.
- If you get a new job, there is often a trial period whereby you (or the business) can change your mind if it’s not working for either one of you.
- If you are told that you only have a few months to live, then you may choose to live the rest of your life in an entirely different way.
So, have I changed my mind about Brexit? No. Has my Dad change his mind about Brexit? Sadly, it seems not. Do we have a difference of opinion whether we should leave or remain? Yes.
Regardless of how each of us voted, in my opinion a people’s vote is the right way forward. Contrary to Theresa’s opinion I think this is inclusive and not divisive.
For me, a people’s vote needs to ask three questions:
1) Do you want to leave or remain? If your answer is to ‘leave’ then
2) Do you want the current deal? Or
3) Do you want no deal?
I voted remain. I stand for inclusion, equality and togetherness so I would still vote to remain. If after a people’s vote the majority wanted to leave then that is the democratic way forward and I would fully support that decision.
A people’s vote would mean that Theresa May would have clear support from the people of the country as to whether it’s her deal or no deal — or if we have changed our mind and want to remain.
I believe it’s time for Theresa to ask the people a final time “now you know the options, what is your final decision”?
That’s listening.
That’s fair.
That’s democracy.
That’s leadership.
And regardless the final result, we then need to support her to deliver that, so our country does not fall off of the glass cliff too.
