AND THE CONTRADICTORY HUMAN
A LEADER IS A DEALER IN HOPE
Leadership sounds wonderful – a shining star leading us out of misery and into the light. “Un chef est un marchand d’espérance,” as Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have said: “A leader is a dealer in hope.” By the way: we don’t like so much to say “Führer” in Germany anymore, “Leader” sounds better.
THE IDEAL OF EMPATHY
What should our leaders be like? Empathetic, of course, team players, inclusive, even-tempered, and committed to diversity. Under no circumstances toxic, choleric or anything like that. And no pressure! Yes, and our leaders should actively engage in political discussion, but they should say the right thing, always strike the right note. We are very sensitive about this. We know what’s right. Every statement they make must be run through the PR department five times to ensure that no group feels offended. Vulnerability! Unfortunately, the important entrepreneurs of our time do not seem to fit into this ideal of empathy: Jeff Bezos, known to be aggressively demanding, Steve Jobs was choleric, as we hear, perfectionist and toxic, Larry Ellison, a ranting control freak, Mark Zuckerberg, awkward and emotionally weak… but, hey, that’s why we don’t like them.
THE VOW OF CHASTITY
Anyone aspiring to a prominent position in Germany today, especially in politics, is expected to take vows of chastity and poverty as well. I won’t reveal which of these vows I would have a problem with. Tucholsky is said to have said: “First of all, you shouldn’t visit your opponent in bed.” Today, things are different. People like to snoop under the covers, and even years later, racy private chat messages are dug up. We are hypersexualised and at the same time beyond prudish.
THE VOW OF POVERTY
And if someone has money, it’s very suspicious. “Are you rich?” Under no circumstances should you answer “yes”, you’re expected to squirm and hedge: “I would classify myself as upper middle class” (as Friedrich Merz told Der Spiegel). People liked Helmut Kohl in Oggersheim, Helmut Schmidt in Langenhorn, Angela Merkel on her apartment floor. Jens Spahn with his villa in Berlin-Dahlem was a no-go. People who have made money, which can occasionally happen to leaders, are viewed with suspicion or even hatred. Elon Musk has, incomprehensibly, made quite a lot of money. But apparently none of that was his own doing; he is also said to wield shadowy conspiratorial powers against us, and many consider him insane and drug-addicted anyway. And when it comes to Donald Trump, we can only shake our heads in horror. What the f…ck is that?
OVERTHROW THE HEROES, WORSHIP THE VICTIMS
Leaders we want to be different. If we are honest, we are in an era of toppling heroes and venerating victims. That is wonderfully human, empathetic and beautiful. And then people eventually become dissatisfied with their leaders, who are as bland as pebbles in a riverbed. But when a truly crazy autocrat, a charismatic populist, a “strongman”, a supposedly “benevolent dictator” promises bold actions and simple solutions, they follow him. But beware: strong leaders strive for concentration of power, and once a dictator is firmly in the saddle and shows his true colours, you won’t be rid of him for decades to come and not without bloodshed.
ULRICH SEIBERT is an art collector, Facebook philosopher, business law professor, investor, actor in low-budget films, friend of lively small talk, and, as he emphasises, a very serious man.