Below is a great LinkedIn post by Omar Da’na, CEO of Ecological Village and human rights/policy expert based in Amman, Jordan. Reprinted with permission.

Dear Reader – Do you display moral courage? Do you understand that silence is complicity? Are you a leader?

In moments of genocide, colonial violence, and systemic oppression, leadership is not about position — it is about impact, integrity, and unwavering humanity.

Authentic leadership in such times demands more than management skills — it requires moral courage to stand where it matters most.

This means:

Presence: Show up where truth is silenced. Stand with those whose voices are erased.

Trust: Empower affected communities to own their stories. Allyship is enabling, not controlling.

Listening: Hear what’s said — and what is deliberately left unsaid.

Clarity: Cut through propaganda with consistent truth-telling.

Kindness: Lead with heart as a radical act in a numbed world.

Curiosity: Learn histories buried under colonial narratives.

Humility: Share credit with those who have been fighting long before you.

Consistency: Turn words into steady action.

Patience: Stay for the long struggle, not just the headlines.

Gratitude: Honour the courage and resilience of those resisting oppression.

When the world feels like it’s collapsing into injustice:

1. Stay calm — fear is contagious, but so is composure.

2. Call genocide, apartheid, and occupation by their names.

3. Anchor in purpose — fight for something, not only against something.

4. Communicate with clarity — truth is the antidote to disinformation.

5. Let principles guide you, not panic.

6. Protect morale — people matter more than metrics.

7. Set the tone — steady, principled, human.

True leadership in times of genocide and apartheid is not neutral.

It does not balance oppressor and oppressed as equals.

It chooses the side of humanity, justice, and liberation.

Part II: Leadership Traits for an Age of Crisis: From Ego to Ethical Stewardship

In moments of upheaval, leadership is tested not by eloquent speeches or polished strategies, but by the ability to inspire trust, humility, and collective purpose. Too often, ego masquerades as leadership. Yet, as history has shown, ego is not a team player—it isolates, silences, and ultimately weakens the very movements it seeks to control.

True leadership thrives not in insecurity but in the courage to embrace brilliance in others. Moral courage—not dominance—is the compass that separates leaders who sustain movements from those who betray them. The best leaders know this simple truth: iron sharpens iron. You don’t grow by being the smartest in the room; you grow by making space for brilliance to challenge, refine, and strengthen you.

The Traits that Matter

1. Humility as Foundation
Great leaders begin with humility. They assume someone always knows something they don’t.

2. Inviting Better Minds
Leadership isn’t about surrounding yourself with cheerleaders. It’s about inviting challengers—those unafraid to critique, push boundaries, and demand more.

3. Defensiveness as a Teacher
When leaders feel threatened, the instinct is often to push back or silence. Authentic leadership transforms defensiveness into curiosity. Feeling challenged should ignite inquiry, not combativeness.

4. Ask, Don’t Impress
In fragile contexts, questions open more doors than proclamations. Leadership is about listening deeply and asking the questions others fear to voice.

5. Sharing the Stage
To “share the mic” is to let others shine. Leadership is magnified—not diminished—when others succeed.

6. Celebrating Wins Beyond Self
Another’s success is not a leader’s failure. It is proximity to growth, proof of collective progress, and evidence of a culture that transcends individual ego.

Ethical Leadership in the Time of Genocide

In the face of genocide, oppression, and global complicity, leadership cannot be performative. It must be rooted in moral courage—the willingness to defend humanity at personal cost. Titles, positions, and privileges mean little if they are not deployed in service of justice. The silence of leaders in such times is itself complicity.

Authentic leaders hold humility and moral courage together. They sharpen their vision through dialogue, empower others to act, and carry the weight of ethical responsibility without turning it into self-glorification.

A Playbook for the Future

The world doesn’t need louder egos. It needs steadier compasses. Leaders who share the mic, celebrate collective wins, and face crises with ethical clarity are the ones who will guide us toward justice and resilience.

The age of ego-driven leadership is collapsing. The future belongs to those who lead with humility, authenticity, and moral courage.

— Omar Dana
Independent Policy Advocacy and Human Rights Expert