Bilal Zuberi’s Post

Michael Keaton's recent message strikes a chord in the midst of today's heated political climate: Are the figures we support truly respecting us, or merely leveraging our allegiance? In the build-up to the 2024 elections, it's vital to scrutinize those in whom we invest our trust and admiration. Keaton challenges us to reflect on our leaders, particularly figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and to consider whether they genuinely value their supporters or if their respect is only skin-deep. Keaton's plea isn't about taking sides; it's about urging critical thought. Loyalty should be a two-way street—an exchange of respect and value. If our leaders aren't reciprocating, maybe it’s time we rethink the dynamics of our support. As we edge closer to pivotal decisions, Keaton's insights remind us of our power as followers and advocates. We hold the keys to our allegiance, and it's up to us to ensure that our loyalty is both respected and deserved. How do your leaders measure up in the respect equation? It's a question worth asking as we navigate the complexities of modern leadership. Let's engage in meaningful dialogue and reflect on the true nature of our support.

RETHINKING POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS: WE EITHER DON’T NEED OR MUST EVOLVE THEM! My evolving perspective in the last few days suggests that traditional concepts of politicians and political systems may no longer be the best for organizing and governing modern societies. #leadership

In today's highly polarized environment, it's fascinating to observe the intense loyalty to single political parties, especially considering that both sides offer policies that could contribute positively to our collective progress. The United States prides itself on its diversity, yet often finds its politics swinging widely to the extremes. Perhaps what's needed is a fresh approach to our political system, one that fosters a more balanced perspective. This isn't about leaning towards one side or the other; it's about recognizing the importance of supporting a range of policies that can benefit the entirety of our nation. From ensuring businesses aren't burdened with excessive taxes to maintaining essential services for the vulnerable, there's a lot to consider. One hopes for a leader who can bring about this much-needed shift, paving the way for a future where constructive change is not just possible but inevitable. Am I the only one who feels this way? I’m exhausting already and it’s not even close to Election Day!

VISION FOR TRANSFORMATION ❗ A journey towards transformation is preceded with a foresight to where you want to be. We cannot journey towards a path we have no foresight about. If you don't know where you are going, everywhere will look like it and in the end, we just engage ourselves in motion without moving forward. We need to first be visionary ourselves before we can develop a Cooperate vision for people and voting in politicians who are not visionary is a foundational error in democracy. The making possibilities of national transformation is a burden that everyone must bear. As a politician, once your vision leaves the people our of responsibility, your acclaimed vision is only an ambition which revolves round your personal interest. #culturalshift #transformation #change

The 1 question you should be asking. In every election cycle, we’re bombarded with promises, slogans, and debates. Each one being louder than the next. It’s overwhelming. I’ve felt it too. The confusion. The uncertainty. Wondering which leader will truly guide us in the right direction. But through it all, I’ve come to realize something important: We’re asking the wrong questions. It was a few years ago, during a personal crisis, that I had a breakthrough moment. I was constantly seeking answers outside myself, relying on external advice and expecting others to fix my problems. When those external solutions failed, I felt lost. Then, it hit me: “I won’t find the answers in others until I am willing to ask the right questions to myself.” I realized that I had been looking for quick fixes instead of addressing the deeper, more difficult questions that mattered. This lesson didn’t just change my personal life; it reshaped how I approached everything. Including how I view leadership and elections. That realization shifted my focus entirely. In 2020, instead of simply reacting to the political noise, I began to reflect on what I, personally, could change. I asked myself: -- Am I voting based on fear, or based on true understanding? -- Do I see beyond the headlines and promises to the real character and integrity of the leaders I’m choosing? -- And most importantly, am I aware enough to make decisions that align with my deeper values, not just immediate desires? What I learned was that the true question we should all be asking in these elections isn’t about the candidates or their promises. It’s about us. Are we truly aware? Or are we choosing leaders based on fear, attachment, and convenience? Until we break free from the surface level of political promises and dig deeper into our own awareness, elections will remain a cycle of disappointment. Real change will start when we elevate our consciousness and see beyond the political theater. Never forget that true Leadership begins within. Until next time, this is Manikk Gupta, inviting you to reflect deeper and choose not just a leader. But a path to true awareness. #VoterAwareness #SelfAwareness #MindfulVoting

“Democracy is not something you have, it’s something you do” I had a chance to spend almost a whole day with my friend and mentor, Marshall Ganz. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from our conversations about his new book (People, Power, Change), democracy, leadership, activism, and politics: ▪ Donerocracy not supposed to replace democracy ▪ Knowledge of knowing how to combine (diverse elements) is the mother of all knowledge ▪ Without democratic structure, leaders with power trade loyalty for voice ▪ Very often we have a model of reality and try to shape the reality to it ▪ When you teach someone how to be mindfully vulnerable publicly (personal storytelling - Public Narrative) you are vaccinating them against authoritarian behaviors ▪ Emotional maturity is more important that emotional intelligence (though connected) ▪ The root of the word “education” is “educare” which means “to draw out” not to put in ▪ If you are just campaigning without an effort to actually build a structured democratic movement, you are not pursuing sustainable change ▪ The key is to teach people how to practice democracy on a daily basis, not to over-intellectualize it. #leadershipdevelopment #democracy #democraticleadership #activism #politics #leadership

Please watch. I love the way Daniella Ballou-Aares frames the challenge: pro-democracy business leaders stay out of politics because it's the safe thing to do, it's the respectable thing to do...BUT history tells us that when business leaders stay out of politics - from Nazi Germany to modern-day Turkey and Hungary - they passively enable autocrats, and democracies collapse. When business leaders engage, we have a better chance of protecting our democracy.

When we talk about humility as a critical function of effective leadership, we’re underscoring the power and importance of consistently seeking input and feedback, without hubris and an over reliance on our expertise or knowledge. Experts — however knowledgeable in their field — can benefit from a diversity of perspectives. In a new paper coauthored with Piotr Swistak, Stanford Professor Jonathan Bendor argues that while expertise, hierarchy, and meritocracy are critical in a democracy, they can’t operate without appropriate oversight. “Nonspecialists need to hold people accountable,” he says. “Otherwise, you get little groups that aren’t accountable to anybody.” As democracies turn to specialists to solve big issues, Professor Jonathan Bendor says non-experts should still hold them accountable. Always, and especially as we navigate another election season, let’s anchor in the critical role of accountability as precisely what unifies democracy and meritocratic bureaucracy. #CivicLeadership

I went through this one during the frenzy of the elections a couple of months back. Our current politicians (from all sides) should have taken a leaf out of this one and abstained from vile comments and slogans. Wouldn’t that be something? Whatever limited Pulitzer-winning literature I have read has not disappointed me. During the early part of my career, I would often naively assume that leadership should simply fire weak or misaligned resources. As I matured, I realized that the real challenge and magic of leadership is to motivate and get the best out of all resources to achieve resonance. Every person should be coached or guided to perform at their best; any other option would be a waste for society. Definitely recommended. #teamofrivals #Coaching #Guidance #PersonalGrowth #PoliticalDiscourse #EffectiveLeadership #SocietyImprovement

Shifting from the political battleground to the philosophical arena, In the intricate dance of politics, where the present often stands on the shoulders of the past, the timeless wisdom of ancient philosophers beckons, casting a discerning light on the nuanced art of choosing leaders or presidents. Let us explore the profound insights offered by two philosophical giants, Plato and Machiavelli, as their teachings echo through the corridors of time, resonating in our considerations for selecting leaders.