Leadership in the Age of Dictatorship – Is There Still Room for Openness?

Extremist thinking, both conservative and religious, has taken new turns in the world. Sometimes gradually, sometimes in great leaps. Fear and hostility toward difference, which once was hided beneath the surface, have now erupted, taking up space and pushing openness into the background. Democratic decision-making, thinking, learning, and wisdom have been pushed to the margins, while power, alternative truths, conflict lines, and self-interest dominate the stage.

Voices advocating tolerance and independent thinking sound surprisingly weak. When will this end? Could a change in power, in the West or the East, bring reason back? Are we still headed toward dictatorship and fascism? What more must happen before the direction changes? These are questions many seem to be quietly pondering in their private conversations.

What about businesses? In most companies, based on my experience, there has been a strong emphasis at all levels on personal responsibility, encouragement toward courage and open dialogue, and support for independent thinking and decision-making. Through various leadership and organizational models, as well as technology, efforts have been made to build automation and self-directed operations so that company leadership would not become a bottleneck and efficiency could be maximized. All this while aiming to foster resilience, creativity, and innovation to maintain competitiveness.

On the other hand, I’ve heard someone say, “Companies are dictatorships.” Strong business leaders have always been both feared and admired. How does the shift in the global political atmosphere affect how companies operate? Judging by recent images in the news, many of the world’s most powerful corporate leaders have either aligned themselves with this new, intolerant style of politics or at least chosen to remain silent. Will the political winds in the US and globally lead to stronger authoritarian tendencies in the corporate world as well?

A company’s purpose is to create value for its owners and customers and to provide meaningful work and a livelihood for its employees. What kind of culture and operating model best supports these goals? Will corporate leadership now and in the future become more authoritarian, or is there still a need for diversity and openness?

Talented individuals are not forced into jobs. They seek out roles and companies that fit their values. Most people want to do work that has some personal meaning, that reflects their worldview. They want to be heard in their workplace and earn a decent living. If customers and employees do not accept a company’s values or operating practices, they can walk away.

Many Western companies are not dictatorships in reality, and fascist ways of operating do not lead to long-term success. The primary role of leadership is, of course, to make decisions that affect the position and activities of many people, sometimes in ways that feel unpleasant on a personal level. But I firmly believe that the best leaders strive to make decisions that support the success and well-being of others, not just themselves, both in the short and long term.