The 4-Year Fork in the Road
As someone who makes a living helping managers and executives become better leaders, I always take a moment when the political climate changes. Why? Because this is where we observe leadership both at its best and at its worse, usually within nano-seconds of each other.
All the rancor and rhetoric around the change of government administration always causes me to pause. While I have vowed to never let politics enter my domain of communication here, I cannot help but observe humanity at play as political tides change.
Without calling out one side or the other, I find it always interesting to see how people react to the announcements of change to come. Whether your color won or lost there are opinions, beliefs, and even (as some argue) moral decisions to be made about the proposed changes.
Let’s be clear. In the USA this happens every four years. And it happens in other countries who also follow some form of democracy i.e. people choosing who they want to lead them in the next term of office. One team wins. One loses. The winner calls the shots and sets the course. The losers typically try to derail the initiatives of the winners in sometimes outrageous ways.
Whether through the legal system, or the court of ‘popular’ opinion, decisions made by the governing party are brought to ‘trial’, prosecuted and on occasion, crucified in the town square.
Friendships and families are torn by the debates over the issues of the day. For those whose beliefs are not fully supported by the new administration, there is a feeling of becoming disenfranchised, unplugged, and maybe even un-hinged. And I promise that knife cuts both ways. It flips whenever a wholesale shift in party thinking takes over from the former leaders.
In the early days of each inauguration, ‘executive orders’ are the means of rapid deployment of ideologies and visions. Once the letter of those mandates settle in, the opposition launches countermeasures to block or repeal the orders. These battles spend millions and millions of dollars for both sides battling through the law making process to level the playing field, usually taking years and lasting perhaps until the next election a full four years later.
Ah, the madness of it all. Yet we rationalize the gymnastics as “the power of democracy.” Free speech. One for all and all for one. Ok, not so much on that last one anymore.
Let’s Find Perspective
If I have learned anything in my 70+ trips around the sun, I’ve learned to consider things as a spectrum. There are degrees of high and low, good or bad, hot or cold.
And for most things, there are very few absolutes. Oh, you might feel personally very strong about something like “I will never run a stop sign.” (Good for you by the way). However, forcing anyone and everyone around you to embrace some other idea is not so perfect.
On one hand, that’s why we see political parties, social clubs, churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of assembly for like-minded folks who believe one set of beliefs. Their desire is to be with others who live within the same basic space on the spectrum of whatever issue strikes an accord. We gather in these small communities or tribes (no disrespect to anyone here) so that we feel safe about our beliefs.
In these smaller communities, we enforce our beliefs. We teach our children the customs and ways of living by those beliefs. We find peace and solace.
Yet venturing out away from such a gathering, we run swiftly into differing opinion and values.
The Question
The question becomes “How do we navigate such a complex world?”
My answer – LEADERSHIP.
For the countless words and themes that are written about leadership, one meaning holds true for me above all the rest. Leadership influences people to come together in a cohesive way to serve a greater good; something bigger than themselves and better than any one person in the group may be. In the process of going there, we get to learn something about ourselves and, hopefully, grow from the experience.
The leader helps us understand the big picture vision. They inspire us to be our best selves. Not for personal gain but for the betterment of the group, the team.
I’ve said for many years now, I truly believe we need these kind of leaders in the public offices, in our places of worship and in our learning institutions. We need leaders who can put aside their personal agenda to serve that greater good.
A good leader can accomplish great things. A great leader builds other leaders.
Where are we right now?
I don’t know for sure and I don’t want to start a debate. In my career, I have known several wonderfully fine people, who I respected, who made their way to Washington to serve in office and influence the process. Sadly, in time, they got worn down. Beaten by the system. And returned home.
IMHO, objectively, we’re no closer to my kind of leader than we were 4 years ago, 8 years ago, 12 years ago, and sadly, much further back than that. I have my own opinion as to who was the last true leader to sit in the White House. But I’ll leave that discussion for another place and time. HINT – the measure of a truly great leader does not mean you can identify with who and what they are all the time. That’s too easy.
For the meantime
Do your part right where you are. Be the leader you can be, influencing the things you can influence.
The future of our families, our businesses, our communities and our country rely on all of us doing our part. And doing it without division, argument or malice. Let’s restore healthy freedom of speech and debate about important issues. Be willing to give more than you get. Listen openly without judgment. Be curious.
May God bless us all.
PS – I know I’ll get letters, comments and be unfriended by some. Isn’t that great though? We all should be able to make just such choices.
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