Setting an example - an effective leadership method of the Party

Through the Party's documents, the Party's leadership methods can be summarized as follows: first, the Party leads through its Platform, strategies, policy orientations and major policies; second, the Party leads through propaganda, persuasion and mobilization; third, the Party leads through Party organizations and Party members operating in organizations of the political system and through organizational and personnel work; fourth, the Party leads through inspection and supervision work; fifth, the Party leads through exemplary actions of Party members.

Setting an example is a method of social governance in long-standing philosophical and political theories of mankind. Setting an example is also a precious tradition of our nation and our Party; it is one of the important leadership methods of the Party; it is one of the basic, essential, and urgent contents in the current Party building work.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh once pointed out: “Eastern peoples are all rich in sentiment, and for them a living example is worth more than a hundred propaganda speeches”; “If we set an example and know how to lead, we can certainly accomplish any difficult task”. He especially valued the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members in carrying out assigned tasks, especially in extremely difficult and challenging times of the revolutionary cause. Throughout his life, Uncle Ho always practiced the responsibility of setting an example and he became a shining example, with extremely strong influence and persuasion for our cadres, party members and people to learn from and follow.

The 13th National Party Congress documents also determined the Party's leadership method for the State: "The Party leads the State through its Platform, strategies, major policies and guidelines, through organizational and personnel work, through inspection and supervision;... Party organizations and Party members, especially organizations and Party members operating in State agencies, must both set an example in complying with the Constitution and laws and uphold their pioneering role in implementing the Party's guidelines, policies and regulations, and the State's policies and laws."

On May 18, 2021, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 01-KL/TW oncontinue to implement Directive No. 05-CT/TW of the Politburo on "Promoting studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle".Fulfilling the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and party members is one of the very important leadership methods of the Party. The exemplary role of cadres and party members, especially leaders, is an “unspoken order”, a correct and effective leadership method, strengthening the people's trust in the Party and the regime.

Words go hand in hand with actions. In 1945, the new Government was born, facing the “enemy of hunger”, “enemy of ignorance”, “foreign invaders”. Uncle Ho called on the whole people to save their compatriots from hunger, and he seriously implemented it first to set an example for everyone to follow. He said: “When we lift a bowl of rice to eat, thinking of the hungry and suffering, we cannot help but be moved. So I propose to the people of the whole country, and I will practice it first: Every 10 days, fast for one meal, every month, fast for three meals. Take that rice (one bowl of rice per meal) to save the poor”. He also said: “Taking the example of good people and good deeds to educate each other every day is one of the best ways to build the Party, build revolutionary organizations, build new people, and a new life”.

During the resistance wars to defend the Fatherland and build the country, there have been many exemplary practices by leaders at all levels, by a large number of cadres and Party members of the Party that have been truly convincing, spreading throughout each locality, unit and the whole society, contributing significantly to defeating foreign invaders, developing the economy, culture and society, raising the country's position, and strengthening the trust of cadres, Party members and the People in the Party and the regime.

The results achieved are remarkable. However, the study, understanding and implementation of the Party's resolutions and regulations on the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members still have certain limitations. There is still a phenomenon that those who set good examples are mainly veterans, the elderly, people who do not hold high positions, etc. A number of cadres and party members, including key cadres, do not study and understand seriously, and do not have a full and profound understanding of their position, role, requirements, content and measures for setting examples, etc. There is still a situation where responsibilities and obligations to set examples are unclear; words, behavior and actions are not really correct; there are also manifestations of "saying is not consistent with doing", "talking a lot, doing little", taking advantage of positions and powers for personal gain, corruption and negativity. In particular, a number of high-ranking officials, both incumbent and retired, have shown signs of degradation in political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, "self-evolution", "self-transformation" within the organization, seriously violating Party discipline and State laws, even requiring disciplinary action and criminal prosecution, causing public outrage and reducing people's trust in the Party and State.

In order for exemplary activities to achieve good results, it is necessary to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the resolutions and regulations of the Party, organizations, and Party committees on the exemplary responsibility of each cadre and Party member. Each organization and individual, especially those in key positions, must have a specific commitment to sign, creating a clear change over time and each work content. The higher the position, the more important the position, the more exemplary it must be. Only then will it be convincing, creating a spread, motivating impact on subordinate cadres and the whole society.

Setting an example is also the basis for each cadre and party member to "self-reflect" and "self-correct", promoting their role and responsibility in each specific activity; at the same time, it is the basis for Party committees at all levels, Party organizations, agencies, units and all cadres and party members to monitor, assist, inspect and supervise cadres and party members in implementing their exemplary responsibility.

Exemplary activities need to be regularly and continuously monitored, commented on, and evaluated in periodic activities, and included in the inspection and supervision programs of Party committees at all levels, as a basis for evaluating Party organizations, cadres, and Party members in the current period./.