Leadership is never easy. It's a steep learning curve. You can read all the textbooks or autobiographies by famous CEOs, national leaders and figures which spell out qualities required — patience, the art of listening, being decisive, setting an example — and still not get it right.
Leading a company is clearly different from leading a country. And heading a profitable and successful company is no guarantee of successful national leadership.
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Being prime minister of Thailand, given its historical, social, cultural and political history, has its peculiar challenges. One of those challenges is being able to manage and balance the needs and expectations of the past with demands and forces of the future.
And no matter whether the prime minister comes from elections or is placed at the top through force, one thing is certain — they all have to go through a tough learning curve being prime minister.
When he first became prime minister, for example, Chuan Leekpai had little knowledge on foreign affairs. He never achieved the depth of understanding as others, but he tried, learned and improved.
Several Thai prime ministers were uncomfortable speaking in English. But they improved. Some, of course, did not.
These examples are, of course, not as crucial as learning to lead as head of government.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, like his predecessors of the past 30 years — from Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to Yingluck Shinawatra — is going thorough this learning curve.
It's no surprise that with 38 years in the army, his style and manner is abrupt and, when he speaks, the words come like orders. This explains the mood and tone of his Friday evening speeches.
He's been advised, of course, to speak from the heart and we can detect slight changes. But he still has a lot of work to do to improve further even though he will never achieve the eloquence and wit of other past prime ministers.
That said, there are those who prefer and like his straightforward military style. It is direct and simple to understand. But this shooting from the hip is exactly what got him into trouble with his bikini comments on the Koh Tao murders of two British tourists.
It was wrong, insensitive and sexist. But the prime minister has done the right thing by "taking responsibility for my words and actions" which were "impolite or inappropriate" and apologising.
What's interesting is that Gen Prayut went further by also apologising to red-shirt activist Kritsuda Khunasen for insulting her on live television. Even though he says her accusations of torture while being detained are untrue, he apologised for being impolite.
By his own admission, Gen Prayut says he is trying to improve. This means he may be learning and now realises that he is not just the leader of the army but the country's prime minister.
Like many others I have never supported the coup d'etat. But like it or not, we are stuck with Gen Prayut as prime minister.
The Prime Minister has made clear his agenda. We have his road map and in the months ahead his government will implement changes in various areas that will supposedly move this country forward.
If, as he says, he is trying to "continuously" improve, then I urge that he listens more and becomes more tolerant to dissenting voices. Find the right balance between past and future in moving forward. Do not lead us back to the past.
All leaders make mistakes. The biggest mistake made by some leaders is that they fail to admit to their mistakes.
They do not listen or they listen to the wrong people. Leaders are not just defined by their mistakes. Sadly, some are judged by their mistakes because that's all they seem do — make one mistake after another.
But a true leader is defined by the choices and decisions they make when faced with tough and difficult circumstances. They are defined by what they do to overcome their mistakes. Gen Prayut krub, what sort of leader are you?
Pichai Chuensuksawadi is editor-in-chief of Post Publishing. Contact him at pichai@bangkokpost.co.th.