After the long and gruelling US presidential campaign, both supporters and opponents of the presumptive winner – including this Kigali-based, naturalized citizen - have two things in common: they love their country and they are absolutely exhausted. But for the publicly declared - but not confirmed - new President, Joe Biden, vice president Kamala Harris and their transition team, there will be no rest at all and their work is only just beginning. The initial focus will be internal - controlling the coronavirus pandemic and reviving the economy - but many people here in Rwanda and around the world will be watching and waiting to see how the USA also re-engages with the rest of the world and re-asserts its traditional leadership in relation to such important issues as trade, foreign investment, human rights, climate change, conflict management, arms control, balance of power, etc. For example, will the USA rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, the World Health Organization, the Iran nuclear deal and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia? And on an individual level, how will the new leader show up on the global stage? There is no way of knowing the future and leaders can certainly change their attitudes and behaviour over time but we already know a lot about the new US leader after nearly 50 years in public service. Here are the five key global leadership traits that are a bit different from what purely domestic or corporate leaders might need and that the new president Biden already seems to possess: Proactivity: prioritizing necessary actions; assembling a diverse and talented team of advisors and deputies; being willing to make tough decisions, and then taking thoughtful, concerted steps as swiftly as possible for the benefit of as many people as possible. Integrity: it is always difficult to stand up for what is right - rather than what is just expedient - and true global leaders need to have a strong moral compass that will lead them to care about, include and listen to all voices; guide them in times of adversity; and influence their and others’ decisions on such sensitive issues as human rights violations, economic and health disparities, environmental degradation, etc. Collaboration: no country is an island and global leaders must be willing to build relationships with both traditional allies and enemies and consult, work, agree and, at times, compromise and even make concessions, where appropriate. Accountability: global leaders have tremendous power and privilege and with that comes the responsibility to do everything they can to achieve their pre-election promises to the best of their ability and then be accountable, learn and make adjustments, whatever the results are. Consistency: flexibility in the face of changing conditions is important and yet other countries need to have confidence that a global leader will not only live up to avowed commitments but will be a reliable and dependable partner in good times and bad. In the end, competence and authenticity are far more desirable than self-service or grand gestures and the respect and trust of others are far more sustainable than fear or popularity. Or in the words of Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho: “The world is changed by your example, not your opinion.”
