The Compulsive Critic & The Leader by Lai Labode

, Jan 24 2013

“Every leader needs a compulsive critic , if you don’t have one , you have not started to lead . ” Lai Labode , 29th May 2010

While visionary leadership is not a promise of perfection , it is usually judged by compulsive critics with a malicious eye for it’s inevitable imperfections . The confidence of the leader is a source of worry to the compulsive critic , the leader’s strengths and resolve are either viewed as arrogance or overbearing , his weakness or weaknesses are forever in the open skies of the compulsive critic , his progress no matter how evident is fiercely denied by the compulsive critic who isn’t wired to contend with its reality.

Because the world is a great lover of great tales of success and failure , its ears are ever ready for all colors of lies , truth , rumors ,misfortune or fiction . There is a large room in the palace of the compulsive critic for believability of anything that undermines the leader and his conviction .

A leader is blamed for the childlessness or impotence of the compulsive critic and must take the fall when the critic fails in his duty to self ,family or society. Leadership is the dumping ground of all that is wrong with the compulsive critic and his household .

When the leader speaks with a measure of passion , the compulsive critic sees a man pretending to love his country , when the leader speaks dispassionately , the critic sees an insensitive leader whose only interest is power and its attendant aura. The compulsive critic is a man with a gift of an eye for the worst .

The compulsive critic knows when the leader farts or sneezes , he is unconsciously obsessed with the leader’s mien and spreads the leader’s message , skill , convictions and prowess without knowing it . He is the town-crier of the leader who never gets paid .

The compulsive critic lives in an illusion of understanding of what is wrong with the leader’s style , belief and disposition , he lives in a small world of self deceit and shows himself to any discerning observer as either too critical , little ,bitter , jealous or envious .

The compulsive critic fails woefully to see that the leaders imperfections are evidence of his humanness , he doesn’t to see that the leader’s humanness is what illuminates his passion and beliefs , his passion feeds his drive , while his belief maintains his resilience.

The leader’s resilience is an evidence of the depth of his conviction , it is his conviction that leads him from glory to glory and keeps the compulsive critic in perpetual discomfort .

Time and time again in human history , great leaders are assailed by compulsive critics , the critic is an integral part of the world of the leader , the leader is less than the full measure of his prowess in the verdict of the history when the compulsive critic is absent .

No one assails a piece of art , music or invention that commands little or no value , the intensity of a critic’s vituperations many a time is a further proof of the leaders power to influence .

The compulsive critic lives with a measure of insanity because he processes every good , bad and ugly information with the same negative emotion leaving him susceptible to flawed perception or submission.

The compulsive critic copes with deep progressive reasoning disability , once he gets into his mood , he knows no caution , reason or shame. While he may sometimes appear personable , he is a little man forever on the loose .

If a compulsive critic has a gift or a flash of some sort of brilliance , the depth of the gift or brilliance is recklessly exaggerated in his mind and he simply looses the wisdom of tolerance for the points of view of others . The compulsive critic is unconsciously an enemy of self .

The compulsive critic is also compulsively insecure hence his over sensitive reactions when attention is called to the delusions of his characteristic single view of a world viewable from a zillion doors and windows .

Many a time , the compulsive critic is the easiest pawn in the slippery arena of political power . It takes little to start him and guide him to a pre-determined end because he fails to see the superiority of self control over rash bravery.

Every leader needs a compulsive critic , if you don’t have one , you have not started to lead .

Lai Labode , 24th Jan 2013