A couple of incidents that occurred in the recently concluded budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly have triggered a public debate on various media platforms on the conduct of public leaders, more particularly representatives of the people. People even from remote corners of the state have aired strong views about these incidents. Common people - and they are voters - have also raised the issue of public trust. Unparliamentary behaviour and the use of undesirable words in public discourse are highly despicable because such acts not only lower the credibility of public leaders but also adversely affect people's trust and confidence in them. Also important to note is that while only one or two individual public representatives display unruly behaviour and conduct, it reflects on all members of the entire House, be it Parliament or the State assemblies. Abusive language and breach of dignity erode people's faith not only in democratic institutions but also in the individual leader who indulges in such acts. Probity is an essential ingredient for one to continue in public life because it has a deep and lasting impact on public opinion. It is thus expected of politicians to be restrained and dignified in their behaviour. There is a tendency among a section of public leaders and politicians to think that the common people are dumb. Some politicians think their voters are uninformed, unreasonable, and short-sighted. But the reality is always just the opposite.
As Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla often says, in a democracy, the conduct of public representatives is supposed to be dignified, be it inside Parliament/Assembly or in public spaces. The entire country looks up to the public representatives because the people have elected them with a lot of hopes and aspirations. What they say and what they do become examples, which is why it is of utmost importance for the people's representatives to keep a watch on themselves. The conduct, words and behaviour of public representatives both inside and outside the House should be such that they send a positive message and establish ideals in society. And then, there is also this negative body language in public leaders which can convey disinterest, defensiveness, or lack of confidence, potentially damaging their credibility and undermining their leadership effectiveness.
Public leaders should project confidence and approachability through body language, using open gestures, maintaining eye contact, and standing tall with good posture, while also demonstrating active listening and empathy through nonverbal cues. Body language is a crucial leadership quality, as it has a significant impact on how people perceive a leader and his/her ability to positively influence the people and connect with them. Public leaders should always keep in mind that they are 24x7 under the scanner of the public and that the public takes the toughest of decisions on the basis of what they find in the scan. Given this reality, public leaders should rather have their own mechanism of introspection so that they are aware of their decorum, conduct and discipline, and above all, the overall impact of these in the elections held every five years.
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