Most countries and big corporations are managed and led by hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Yet, most people ignore this and continue to idolize a single person, as if they alone are the solution.
No matter how important or capable they may be, no individual can do it all.
Historically, this kind of naive thinking made sense — people had limited access to information, and societies were built around centralized authority.
Problems were also simpler in many ways. There was often a clear enemy to defend against, fewer variables to consider, and far less data to process.
In such a world, having a single, decisive leader might have been more effective. But today, our challenges are far more complex, yet we still hang to the same leadership models.
So, why are we still trapped in this simplistic view?
Why, in an age of unprecedented scientific, technological, and economic progress, do we still entrust the greatest responsibilities to single individuals?
I believe we are still stuck with a political and leadership system that no longer makes sense.
“Democracy is the least worst political system, and that’s why we do it this way.”
— that’s the common defense.
Others argue that life today is far better than it was centuries ago — life expectancy has risen, and access to medicine, education, and basic needs has improved.
But isn’t that precisely why it feels like we’re behind?
How is it that we’ve made such extraordinary progress, yet still hang to leadership models designed for a world that no longer exists?
When we are deeply set in a system, it becomes difficult to step back and question it.
There are two sides to this coin. One is the nature of these systems — that makes change difficult, reinforced by those in power. But that is not the focus here.
The other side — the one where people endlessly debate whether one world leader or presidential candidate should be in charge — is where my logic fails to follow.
By now we should recognize that no single individual possesses the capacity, objectivity, or foresight to lead in a truly balanced way.
How naive are we to believe, election after election, that one person will solve all our problems?
How blind are we to keep idolizing business moguls, believing that a single CEO, billionaire, or so-called visionary will single-handedly shape the future and fix the world’s biggest challenges?
Are we too simplistic — or perhaps too afraid — to embrace a more complex, collective, and non-individual-based system that might better serve us?
