Leaders who struggle are leaders obsessed with themselves rather than the mission at hand.
Challenged leaders always bring you back to how they feel and how events affect their direction, life, and relationships. Strong, good leaders, instead, bring us back to the mission--what is important to the team and what team has to do.
Great leaders surround themselves with trustworthy staff who are committed, reading, and willing to lead with good research, attention, focus, discipline, and collaboration. Those staff members bring their expertise to the table to support, guide, and debate with the leader in order to make important decisions that match the mission. Good staff are also willing to acknowledge shortcomings and the need for greater consult and information.They continually reach out beyond the consultant group to learn more, be inspired, and understand well the complexity, challenge, and potential of situations in order to make good decisions.
For great leaders, ambition serves mission, and not the other way around.
In recent days, President Trump initially refused to stand up by condemning the hate groups whose protests and aggression supported racial prejudice and hat and led to death, harm, and destruction in Charlottesville. Fortunately, he eventually heard the cry of the people, and did respond with this statement and more:
Yet, as has occurred in the past, he move towards a positive statement was then overrun as he tweeted countless follow-up negative, finger-pointing, and self-interested messages. For reasons I cannot understand, he refuses to speak and act in ways that demonstrate good leadership, and this is very concerning. It appears that he can't grasp the magnitude of responsibility, decorum, collaboration, humility, and service that is required of the President of the United States, but instead continues to see his role as that of a reality television or game show host.
The advice and efforts he used to forward his businesses is not good advice or effort for running a free and democratic society. In fact, it appears that his leadership actually challenges the free and democratic society we value so much.
So what's an average American who wants to do his/her part to do in the face of these troubling Trump times?
Speak and Act Against Trump's Worrisome Leadership
First, it's clear that Trump is not hearing the message. Even when he eventually does the right thing in a situation like calling out the KKK and other White Supremist groups, he quickly reverts back to his name-calling, vindictive, and sensationalist ways--the kind of behavior that has spiraled the North Korea situation into a frightening, costly, and time-consuming situation, the kind of situation that could result in the loss of innocent lives in the United States or in North Korea. It seems the President never made time to look for or act for peaceful solution with global partners in this regard. Fortunately it looks like some on his staff are stepping in to try to remediate the situation. Let's hope they are successful and no harm will be done to anyone.
Next, as citizens we have to continually step up and speak up against President Trump's condescending, negative, and self-serving speech, the kind of language that truly trumps up situations in harmful, dangerous, costly, and time-consuming ways. He's leading a national argument that stirs things up in negative ways, but does not lead us together or ahead. With his power, he could be using his influence to forward terrific, positive national debate about issues that matter, but instead he's unwilling to ask questions, seek advice, work with others, and with humility, relay issues in positive, proactive ways.
Reach out to enlist time, money, and support for what is right and good.
Third, we have to reach out to the many powerful people in our country and make sure that they use their money, time, and influence to do what is right and good. All those we've elected into office have a responsibility to work for the public good--that is their job . Also the many wealthy Americans who have tremendous power due to their wealth, also have a responsibility to advocate for what is right and good with their voices and their money--it can't just be about them, but they have to give back both formally through our tax system and informally through the way they use their time and effort since they are reaping the rewards of good fortune and tremendous material/monetary wealth.
Promote voter registration and voting
Further, we have to make sure our friends and neighbors register to vote, and then vote. To not vote, is to leave our laws and leadership up to chance. Further, if possible, we should get involved in elections at the local, state, and national levels to influence good leadership and positive action.
Do your part, and do it well
Finally, and probably most importantly, we to do our own good work in the fields where we work, support and contribute. In this end, we have to focus on our actions and words. Since actions send a stronger message about whom we are and what we stand for, we have to be clear about our work's mission and what we will do on our own and with colleagues to forward that mission. For example, simply put, my mission as a teacher is to teach children well, and that's where I have to focus my energy. As a parent, my mission is to be present, supportive, and a guide to my own children to help them do their best by themselves and others in their own pursuits and choices.
