THEME FOR DEBATING 

Is there a pilot in the plane? (…or: Do we have leaders?)

Do we have leaders, in the real sense of the word? People who have a clear vision, new ideas, enthusiasm, altruism? Do we elect our leaders by certain criteria, or is it maybe by habit or according to quotas. Are the NGOs led by people who think more progressively than others, who have idea how to make their organizations more successful and self-sustainable? Or, to put it in other words: Is there a pilot in the plane?

“Civic World” invites you to reflect upon this interesting subject and offer your opinions at the Forum open on our web-sites: www.graganskisvet.org.mk  and www.civicworld.org.mk . Please enter the debate under your full name and surname.

For a start, we present several opinions on this subject:

Jana Angelova:  I don’t think we have leaders in the real sense of the word. They are elected as presidents of associations according to some strange systems, and those who push things forward indeed, are usually left aside. In our country one can find leaders such as there are in the western associations – completely committed and with a clear vision - very rarely. The reason for it might be the fact that there are very few professional associations in Macedonia, most of the others are on voluntary basis.

Liljana Angelovska:  There is no leadership education in our country, as it is the case in the States. It is also part of the civic associations’ work, as well as politicians and businessmen’s work. The natural gift for leadership is not always enough, though the charisma is very important. However, the managing, that is, the leadership in the developed countries is something which is learned for a longer period of time, there are rules, methods, technologies. We know very little of that…