Leaders? Or Just Pushy People with Opinions?
Just because somebody is in a leadership position doesn’t mean he or she is a leader. I’ve worked with “masters of the universe” I wouldn’t follow out of a burning building. Others, I’d run into a burning building to save. The difference between the two? Intelligence, integrity, accountability and the willingness to hear things which they may hate. Leadership is also not a fun fair weather job - something Eisenhower, for example, well understood. I can only imagine the profanity with which he (known for his volcanic temper) would react to the follies of many of today’s CEOs and elected officials. The eve of D-Day he wrote two letters, one for if the invasion was successful, one if it failed. The one that really inspires me is the second, for failure. He said:
“ …If any fault or blame attaches to this attempt, it is mine alone.” Wow. (If you click on the link, you can see the original handwritten draft.)
Now, Eisenhower, by many accounts, wasn’t one of our better presidents. But, he was one of history’s best generals, combining clear-eyed intelligence, political acumen, and logistical brilliance to win a war against well-documented, world-threatening evil. All of which leads to a second point - not everyone, no matter how brilliant, is good at everything.
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September 14th, 2005 at 8:16 pm
Jeez Mary. I thought you were going to give me credit for coining this title phrase!
Seriously though - glad to see implementing the idea. You are great at putting the walk in the talk.
September 17th, 2005 at 9:42 am
I’m totally with you on the “masters of the universe” thing. I can only speak for myself, but my number one characteristic for a leader is - Responsibility: taking responsibility for what happens in your corporation, business, government.
Corporate CEO’s who shun responsibility because “they didn’t know” what was going on instantly lose any and all credibility as leaders (and as human beings)
Government leaders who “take the blame” 10 days after a disasterous response also lose credibility. When you take responsibility, you need to do so immediately.
In Eisenhower’s case - he took responsiblity even before the actual event took place - wow - now THAT’s a leader.
Mary - just for the record - I’d brave the flames to get ya.
August 17th, 2007 at 7:37 am
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