What does failure of leadership look like? Is it simply a failure to lead, or are there other causes? Seems to me that at the core is some failure to solve for a set of circumstances, or a set of problems – to advance a solution. Sometimes, we would rather be right than effective.
It is likely that at some level our political system is a a reflection of our society. This means we have some work to do with ourselves, and some work to do with our leaders. It seems we have lost our way in terms of living out that which we value. There is an internal decay as a result. (Note: There is a certain irony in writing this. I have to believe that my parents thought much the same thing while raising me in the 60’s!)
There are some notable differences. In the midst of the divisiveness and polarization of the 60’s, leaders found a way to get things done. They knew that their job was to insure that negotiation and compromise was practiced and everyone got something they could live with. The current practice of non-negotiation is not only bad politics, it is increasingly dangerous for the country.
Some will care about how we got here. They are historians and those interested in the ‘why’ question. As a coach, I am a pragmatist. I want to know what we will do moving forward that improves our ability to have respect for differing points of view, and work with others while we don’t agree.
One thought I have is encouraging leaders to return to relationship. Spending time with the opposition to get to know them as people. How did they come to believe what they did? When we know people, we tend to understand more about them. It is then a little easier to work with them, regardless of their ideology, or their theology. Ideology is not more important than the humanity we are in community with. Yes, like mindedness is nice, but one of the great things about divergent opinions is that we become more informed and generally have a broader, better solution. At the end of the day, we are all in this together. As I heard from a consumer board member at a Community Health Center when asked what he’d like to put on a t-shirt if given the chance, “What you do affects me!” Simple, profound.
I often think, and often hear, what can I do? Make your voice be heard. Where you see leadership not negotiating, compromising, and generally holding on to ideology to the detriment of the common good, let them know it’s not okay. This is particularly true with our national and state leadership. “…of the people, by the people, for the people” is the foundation principle of how we are to govern.
Encourage the value of conversation with your children. I am deeply concerned about the increased tendency I see for us to answer one another by way of text or e-mail. Yes, it is efficient, and there are many times where it works well. It is not always better in two ways. One, it is easy to misconstrue the emotion and motivation behind the written word. Two, it is more isolating. The extra moments we could take to talk to someone that could be used to build relationship is vacated. Can that be a good thing?
Be true to your word. Not just what you say, but have your actions match your words. Leadership is not just about our democracy, our businesses, our churches, our volunteer organizations. Our actions speak volumes to those around us. Are we helping others evolve into something better? “What you do affects me.”
Be persistent. Find your voice. Continue to use it. There is an urgency that will require “the people” to decide what they want, what they will tolerate, and what they will sacrifice to pass on a stronger community to the next generation.
This is not easy, but what I know is that there is a downhill inertia that will make it harder if we wait any longer.
To a better you…
Jim