“I never thought of politics as a profession”. ―

Georgios A. Papandreou

I’m with Georgios.

I never really considered politics as a profession but it should be.

I’ve heard the following arguments:

1. We need more ‘young’ blood in politics.
2. We need experienced politicians to lead.

The second argument seems to be the stronger of the two as we keep voting for the same ‘experienced’ – gradually becoming old – politicians that we know.

This is how I see the general view of people about politics in Trinidad and Tobago: Everyone wants a clean house; nobody wants to clean it. The truth is that we cannot clean the dirt by staying away from it.

Unfortunately politics if regarded as a profession is seen as a disgraced one so those that are both capable and competent are reluctant to join.

We cannot take the words of any of our leaders for granted. Words have been deconstructed, promises emptied of meaning. It is all very straightforward: if a man`s word means nothing, it means nothing. It is folly to believe otherwise.

It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first

Ronald Reagan

Colin James, a political writer for the online magazine ‘New Zealand Business Insider shares: Professionals deal in shades and nuances, qualifications and evidence. They accumulate knowledge. They can be deadly dull and get in the way of exciting ideas. “Bureaucrat” conjures “killjoy”.

Most politicians eventually temper their ideology, instinct and inclinations with evidence-based advice from public service professionals. Politicians’ will prevails and officials carry out orders. But wise politicians first listen.

This is rules-based democracy on which good statecraft depends. Voters want politicians to do their bidding. But they also want professional management. Politicians who ignore the rules can do spectacular good. Or they can get things horribly wrong.

Institutions of government lack, but desperately need, strong and capable management.

In ‘My Years with General Motors’, by Alfred P. Sloan, Peter Drucker outlines the main lessons which I think is a great framework that I have paraphrased for anyone desirous of pursuing a political career:

• Politics is a profession and the politician is or should be a professional
• Like any other professional, the professional politician has a ‘client’: the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
• Politicans do not make decisions by opinions according to their preferences. They make them according to facts
• The job of a professional politician is not to like people. It is not to change people. It is to put their strengths to work. And whether one approves of people or of the way they do their work, their performance is the only thing that counts and indeed the only thing that the professional politician is permitted to pay attention to.
• Performance is more than the ‘bottom line’. It is also setting the example. And this requires integrity.
• Dissent, even conflict are necessary, are indeed desirable. Without dissent and conflict there is no understanding. And without understanding, there are only wrong decisions.
• Leadership is not ‘charisma’. It is not ‘Public Relations’. It is not showmanship. It is performance, consistent behaviour, trustworthiness

The last and most important lesson is this:

The professional politician is a servant. Rank does not confer privilege. It does not give power. It imposes responsibility.

Politics can be a noble profession…

but the greed for power and fame has stained it. Because of some atrocious politicians, the integrity of the entire profession has been destroyed. When we think about politicians and politics in this country we think of corruption, a corrupt system, unachievable projects and slow growth.

The professional politicians’ role is to translate the broad preferences of the electorate into action.

When an entrepreneur crashes and burns, only few burn in the crash. When a professional politician crashes and burns, multitudes burn. It is vital to have a framework – and to be guided accordingly.

About Giselle

I’m Giselle Hudson — Organization & People Development Sensemaker™, MCODE® Legacy Coach, writer and musician. I help leaders and independent professionals close the gap between strategy and execution by making invisible friction visible, so direction can finally translate into results.

If execution isn’t matching intent and you can’t quite see why, message me on WhatsApp. We’ll start with a brief Clarity Conversation to understand what you’re facing and decide together whether a focused Sensemaking Session is the right next step.