#413 The case of the AfD – confirmed extremist, what to do? - an article by Niels Brabandt
The case of the AfD – confirmed extremist, what to do?
an article by Niels Brabandt
The AfD has been declared a confirmed right-wing extremist organisation.
After years of investigation by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, this categorisation brings clarity. Dealing with this is crucial for leaders who want to act sustainably. The times of uncertainty, room for interpretation or ambiguity are over. This categorisation brings with it the need for clear action.
Fundamentals
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution has investigated the AfD for years. Statements by officials, party programmes, speeches, communication, contacts and alliances, evidence, facts. Years passed from the suspicious case to the status of being an object of observation to the status of being confirmed as an extremist party. Therefore, this decision is not a short-term, unsubstantiated or arbitrary act.
Consequences
The decision has far-reaching consequences. People with civil servant status have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. This oath makes it impossible to belong to or support an anti-constitutional party. There are no such fixed rules in the free enterprise. Nevertheless, a commitment to basic democratic values is the standard nowadays. Supporting anti-constitutional organisations is unacceptable for employees and even less for managers - this goes without saying. Living in a democracy is a privilege and a valuable asset. Forces that want to undermine and abolish it have no place in any company or organisation. It, therefore, has a clear impact on companies and organisations if the AfD is now classified as a right-wing extremist. As an organisation, you now need to check whether there are any complaints or obvious cases of support for an extreme right-wing organisation. If so, you must act immediately.
You can learn more about these aspects in detail in this week's videocast and podcast; see the links below.
Implementation
As an organisation and, above all, as a manager, it is important to remain credible. The days of making excuses are over. You cannot look the other way, pretend ignorance, or selectively not listen when it comes to problematic cases. A moment like the one we are experiencing here is called a moment of truth. This moment shows whether managers are living the values they say or being opportunistically quiet - after all, the business could have financial benefits if they say nothing. Your social legitimacy as a manager depends largely on these moments of truth. If you provide convincing leadership here, employees' trust will increase significantly, not just in the short term, but in the long term. If, on the other hand, you don't show any action here, if you make excuses, if you think you would rather chant values as marketing instead of living them, then employees will withdraw their trust in you. Your social legitimacy will be damaged, possibly even irreparably. As a leader, you will then no longer be followed or will only deliver the minimum performance. This phenomenon is known as quiet quitting. As a leader, you can now clearly show where your values stand and how you live them. Act immediately to be seen as a sustainably positive leader and to retain the positive aspects of your actions.
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More on this topic in this week's podcast: Videocast / Apple Podcasts / Spotify
For a transcript, check the videocast.
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Niels Brabandt is an expert in sustainable leadership with more than 20 years of experience in practice and science.
Niels Brabandt: Professional Training, Speaking, Coaching, Consulting, Mentoring, Project & Interim Management. Event host, MC, moderator.