Qualities of a good political leader

CEBU, Philippines – As the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year's national and local elections nears, the question of which candidates best fit public office is at the forefront of the public mind. Voters need to go beyond surface popularity and dig deeper to know if the individual candidates really have what it takes to render good public service. It's important to get to the truth behind the campaign hype.

The website www.beliefnet.com acknowledges that, for many people, deciding which candidate to vote into office is simply a matter of party affiliation.  In the Philippine experience, however, this is no longer totally true. The past several elections have resulted in quite a mixed victory from among the country's multi-party electoral system.

It may be construed, therefore, that the main Filipino electorate cast their votes based on specific characteristics they look for in the candidates they choose.  But what are these desirable characteristics? What are the qualities or characteristics that good political leaders should possess?

The www.beliefnet.com website lists the top five characteristics of some of the world's most successful political leaders. These, for sure, can help voters in determining which candidates to vote into office.

Honesty

Being honest can sometimes be difficult because it makes individuals vulnerable.  It reveals who the candidate really is and exposes his mistakes - giving his opponents the opportunity to criticize him or the voters to reject him.  Honesty develops character and builds credibility and trust, which are the foundation to evoke confidence and respect from others, and in the case of political leaders, teammates and constituents. Honesty about oneself and one's slips often earns sympathetic consideration from others, especially if it is done out of repentance and humility.

Compassion

Compassion is the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something to alleviate that suffering. While many see compassion as a weakness, true compassion is a characteristic that converts knowledge to wisdom - and wisdom into appropriate action.  Good political leaders use compassion to see the needs of those they lead and serve, and to determine the course of action that would be of greatest benefit to all those involved.

Integrity

The word integrity is defined as "the adherence to moral and ethical principles; the soundness of moral character."  It is a synonym for honesty and uprightness, and is a vital characteristic for those in political leadership. Political leaders who possess integrity can be trusted because they never veer from inner values, even when it might benefit them to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers. And this requires the highest standard of integrity.

Confidence

Having confidence in a political leader is about having faith or belief that he or she will act in the right, proper, or effective way.  A good political leader needs to be both confident in himself as well in his ability to lead.  Leaders who possess this quality inspire others, drawing on a level of trust which sparks the motivation to get others on board on a challenge and attain the aspired goal.

Flexibility

Flexibility for a political leader is about understanding the give-and-take aspects of politics, and the ability to find the common ground.  Good politicians listen carefully to all sides, to not only hear their arguments but to especially learn what it will take on behalf of all parties involved to reach a consensus. This characteristic allows political leaders to recognize setbacks and criticism, to learn from these and move forward.

These qualities, therefore, should be fundamental in a political candidate - although he or she will need more in order to be effective once elected to office. According to www.beliefnet.com,  each good political leader aspires to respect different views, analyze problems, and identify the best solutions - not based on loyalty to political party, but rather based on what is good and right and in the best interest of the nation as a whole.