‘We need to stop giving nearly everything a political tone’ – Farsons Group CEO

Farsons Group CEO Norman Aquilina has called for a more inclusive and empathetic leadership, arguing that excessive politicisation of societal issues is leading to polarised thinking and a lack of comprehensive understanding.

Sharing his thoughts on LinkedIn, Mr Aquilina commented that as a society “we need to stop giving nearly everything a political tone or character.”

He argued that disagreeing on a political opinion is fine and expected; the issues lie in the fact that politicisation runs so deep in society that “almost every aspect of our daily lives ends up in the news with two sides; we need to move away from this double thinking.”

Mr Aquilina asks as to why deeper understanding along with the ability of seeing the bigger picture remains lacking in political thinking and debates.

“Is it because politicians only listen to what they want to hear? Or, if at all politicians are listening, to whom are they listening?” he questioned.

He expressed his belief that the problem stems from the fact that politicians treat their party faithful as the electorate and the voice of the people, rather than listening to a wider audience, missing out on broader viewpoints and perspectives. “Listening is simply not a selective process,” he added.

He highlighted that politicians need to approach their political slogans and messages with more inclusive listening, remarking that continued failure in attaining this “will only lead to further erosion of public trust.”

“Politicians must fully recognise that it’s not only about them expecting to be heard but also about them being ready to listen, otherwise people will stop listening to them. Listen and understand, followed by talk and lead, in that order, and not vice-versa, as some politicians unfortunately seem to believe and practice,” he continued.

Wrapping up his thoughts, Mr Aquilina emphasised that there is need for better reckoning with public sentiment and ultimately national interest.

He concluded that "less politicisation and more meaningful listening will help politicians make better informed decisions and this is what we all should be supporting and aiming for."