Leadership: Apologising Is A Weakness Or Strength?

It has been commonly believed, upheld and maintained consistently in Singapore by certain quarters of leadership that to apologise for a mistake is a display of weakness.

Is it true that to admit a mistake is to reflect a weakness on the part of the one who said sorry?

The UK's PM, Boris Johnson, has just apologised to his MPs for a mistake/blunder he should not have made. Here is his full Statement made in Parliament:

"Mr Speaker, I want to apologise. I know that millions of people across this country have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last 18 months.

I know the anguish that they have been through - unable to mourn their relatives, unable to live their lives as they want, or do the things they love.

And I know the rage they feel with me and with the government I lead, when they think that in Downing Street itself the rules are not being properly followed by the people who make the rules.

And though I cannot anticipate the conclusions of the current inquiry, I have learned enough to know there were things we simply did not get right and I must take responsibility.

No 10 is a big department with the garden as an extension of the office - which has been in constant use because of the role of fresh air in stopping the virus.

And when I went into that garden just after six on the 20th of May 2020, to thank groups of staff before going back into my office 25 minutes later to continue working, I believed implicitly that this was a work event.

But, Mr Speaker, with hindsight I should have sent everyone back inside, I should have found some other way to thank them, and I should have recognised that even if it could be said technically to fall within the guidance, there would be millions and millions of people who simply would not see it that way.

People who suffered terribly, people who were forbidden from meeting loved ones at all, inside or outside.

And to them and to this House [of Commons], I offer my heartfelt apologies.

And all I ask is that Sue Gray be allowed to complete her inquiry into that day and several others, so that the full facts can be established. And I will of course come back to this House and make a statement."

In reality, a good leader bound by his conviction to a high standard of morality, ethics, justice and fairness, and his ability to discern right from wrong, is bound to apologise to his people for mistakes, oversights and blunders made by himself, his colleagues or his subordinates. It shows his courage and strength in character. It displays his willingness to take full responsibility.

On the other end, cowards will never apologise or say sorry because they are afraid of making mistakes. They are afraid of being blamed. They are afraid to see themselves in the mirror. Why?

Because they believe that to apologise or say sorry is to admit a mistake, an oversight or a blunder done, and therefore it is a weakness. Perhaps, in their dreams at night, in the dark hours, they are seeing the images of ugly ghosts in themselves?

In truth, to be able to admit a mistake, oversight or blunder and say sorry, is a mark of a great man with great strength and great courage, not a weakness as has been maintained by some cowardly leaders both in the UK and in Singapore.

For a long time, I have been wanting to write about this inability or unwillingness of certain Singapore leaders to apologise to the people for the mistakes and blunders that they have made over the last 55 years or so.

I held it back because it does not reflect well of their legacy (a legacy of cowardice and irresponsibly in leadership), and it is better that it remains that way.

Why correct them when you know that the leopards will not be able to change their spots?

Why now? Think.


A-non-y-mouse.