Leadership

What qualities should a leader have?  A simple question that is impossible to answer.  We are approaching a show down between the leaders in Congress and the President, with each side critical of the other, and lobbying for press time to make their cases to the public, as if we really have a role in this debate.  So lets talk about that term leader and what it means.

Merriam-Webster defines Leader as a person who leads as a guide, or conductor, a person who directs a military force or unit or a person who has commanding influence or authority.

Leadership – the office or position of a leader, the capacity to lead, or the act or an instance of leading.

So, at least according to Merriam-Webster, there are no inherent qualities required of a leader.   Anyone, because of the position they hold, can be a leader, the real separator of bad or good leaders rests in the second definition of leadership – the capacity to lead.

If we look back in history we find wonderful examples of both good and bad leaders, in military, the arts, and politics so lets review a few.

Alexander the Great – Conquered  much of the known world by the time he was 30.  Born into a position of rank, he succeeded his father Phillip II of Macedon in 336BC at the age of 20.  For 10 years he commanded the loyalty of his Army as they invaded Persia and then India.  His abilities to inspire and lead have set the standard for leadership most military leaders aspire to.  He was fearless in battle, and quick to realize a tactical advantage and exploit it.  So there are two qualities to consider – physical courage and the ability to see what others do not.

Pontius Pilate, the fifth Prefect of Judea, when presented with a tough political call found a way to wash his hands of the whole affair.  History does not reflect kindly on Pontius Pilate.

George Washington – from Colonial Virginia, he was the dominant military and political leader of the early United States.  During the revolutionary war he held a rag-tag group of volunteers together during failed campaigns, terrible winters, and periods of retreat.  During the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge Washington held his army together despite a lack of almost everything but cold and damp.  During the war he had to deal with Mutiny when Congress failed to raise funds to pay the Army and provide the material they needed.  In at least one case when the mutiny was put down he dealt with the soldiers who had rebelled with great compassion.  So I would characterize one of his greatest qualities as a leader as compassion.

Abraham Lincoln, The sixteenth President of the United States, he served as Commander-in-Chief during the Civil War.  In that war the North had every advantage except a competent General to lead the Army.  President Lincoln went through a half dozen Commanders for the Army of the Potomac before he found Ulysses S. Grant.  Often stymied by his own party out to feather their personal nests, Lincoln showed determination and perseverance.  He did not quit when it was tough or going against him.  He kept his focus on the end goal, preservation of the Union.  In that -- he succeeded and is revered as a great President.

U.S. Grant shows us a study in contrasts with both admirable qualities and demons that would ultimately lead to his failure as President.  As General of the Army his willingness to pursue and hound the Confederate Army ultimately led to the end of the war.  As President, his trusting nature and acceptance of cronyism lead to the widespread corruption in the Federal government.

Benjamin Harrison, Republican, the 23^rd President, he took a treasury surplus and managed to zero that out and create a recession, leading to the eventual loss of both Congress and the Presidency.  How many people can name a highlight of the Harrison administration?

Ludwig van Beethoven, a German composer, his music survives as among the greatest compositions ever written.  He is among the most famous and influential composers of all time.  He achieves this status despite becoming completely deaf.  Musical genus alone does not account for this.  He was driven to excellence; he accepted nothing short of perfection in his work.  The demand to be the best you can be, the desire to excel when those around you accept less, enviable qualities for a leader.

Dwight David Eisenhower General of the Army and 34^th President of the United States.  Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1915, he was only a Lieutenant Colonel in 1939, by 1945 he was a General of the Army, the highest rank the Congress has ever authorized.  He achieved this not through courage on the battlefield, but through his ability to unify and focus a group of powerful, egotistical generals and politicians like Roosevelt, Churchill, Patton, and Montgomery towards the common goal of defeating the Germans.  His ability to remain calm, divorce his emotions from the moment, and build a workable plan lead to our victory in Europe in World War II.

Gandhi, a simple lawyer, led the nation of India out from under British colonization.  How could one man do this?  He inspired and led with a moral compass and compassion for the poor that made it impossible not to follow him if you were Indian.  He stubbornly refused to play by the rules the British tried to force upon him.  He played to a bigger stage.

So, here we are approaching the financial ruin of the country and the question I put before you is what admirable qualities of leadership do we see in the President, the Speaker of the House, the House minority leaders, and our Senate leadership? 

So far I’ve got to tell you I see more Pontius Pilate than Alexander the Great, more Benjamin Harrison than Gandhi.  I don’t see a vision of what is possible; I don’t see the ability to put personal agendas aside for a common good.  I don’t see anything but grandiose pandering to the diehard supporters of both Parties.  Republicans want reduced spending (smaller government) and the Democrats want increased Tax (bigger government).  Neither side has a willingness to agree to a plan to achieve a government that will live within its means.