Leadership is
a tricky matter; for political leaders in trouble, it says more about their
ability to ‘connect’ with the body politic, than the public’s excess of
expectations. Such a connection
determines not just how much latitude they exercise, but how far the public’s
patience can be stretched. Those who successfully
bond are skilful and confident. They can
expect that, if the relationship diminishes, it might be rekindled, later.
Leadership
is truly as complex as the person at the helm. Those who possess leadership’s essential
qualities seldom need the affirmation of opinion polls.
Why isn’t
this Premier connected with her ‘body politic’?
