Historical December 1995 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Leadership. It’s written about a lot, talked about even more, but not seen all that often. Unfortunately.
There are many definitions of leadership, but one I like says, “a leader takes you where you didn’t want to go, but then you’re happy when you get there.” Leading a parade that has a predetermined route is easy. It’s not too hard to lead by being negative, reading against things. And leading those who want to be led is certainly simpler than leading those who need to be persuaded.
In any case, we’d probably agree, leadership makes the difference.
A good leader helps us be better than we really are; whatever the challenge, we perform above our skill level with good leadership.
Most of what’s good in our world is there because of leaders. Leaders ignored the odds; they made the whole greater than the sum of its parts; they fought the good fight. Whether it was leadership in science, like Louis Pasteur ignoring his peers who thought him foolish when he said that germs caused disease, or political leadership, as when FDR built a social structure that protected those who couldn’t protect themselves, it made the difference.
It was the leadership at the institutional level that Bill Danforth gave to Washington University, and leadership at the community level that Vince Schoemehl provided as our mayor that made the difference. At all levels, it’s leadership.
In his book, Managing the NonProfit Organization Peter Drucker says that the question we should ask ourselves is whether the world will be a better place for our being here. Have we made a difference? Have we changed the world, even a little bit? Acting on our own, perhaps we can do that.
But by acting as leaders and by acting with leaders, we can do far more than if we act alone. Together, with leadership, we can change the future.
As I’ve gotten older, I recognize different leadership styles.
I realize that not everyone responds to — or needs — the same leadership style. Good leaders, then, are good, in part, because they’ve found themselves (or placed themselves ) in a situation where their particular talents are valued.
After all, Churchill really wasn’t any wiser in 1944 than he was in 1934. What changed was the context.
In ’34 he was warning everyone who would listen about Germany’s military build-up and aggression, but was ignored. Then, a decade later, he was a world-wide leader.
It was the world that had changed, though, not Churchill. That’s why he was voted out of office when the conflict ended.
I consider myself pretty lucky because I know quite a few leaders.
These people aren’t the Churchills of the world, but they make a difference; they influence others in a positive way.
They embody the leadership qualities we need so badly, even though they don’t wear stars on their shoulders or have titles that connote their influence. One person I know is a leader by action.
This person leads by his involvement.
This person takes the time to care and get involved, to ask the hard questions. Everyone around this person performs a bit better, at a higher level. Our corner of the world will forever feel the imprint left by this person.
Another leader has a different style.
This person leads by effort, presence, and understanding.
This person has the knack of saying the “just right” thing, the comment that crystallizes a discussion and empowers the group. Putting in the time and making the hard calls means this person leads by example, through earning the resped of others. Still another leader I know leads by economy and wisdom.
When this person speaks, heads turn and rooms get quiet.
This person looks at the big picture, always being selfless in portraying personal contributions. Sometimes this person isn’t even present for a discussion, but the thinking of the group is influenced nonetheless.
I know leaders who are able to lead because they’ve earned the respect of their peers. They’re respected because they’ve demonstrated not just their skills, but also their commitment to move the organization forward.
They better themselves while doing it, and others respect them for it. They’re the people others trust and follow into uncomfortable situations. Oddly, I know more leaders than I know of leaden.
The leaders I’ve described are people I know personally.
They are people I know who go beyond their own boundaries and try to make the world a better place.
I see the fruits of their labor.
When I look at local and national leadership, it gets more depressing. Chief Clarence Harmon’s resignation has left a void in our community. I’ve never really met the man, but from what I can tell, he was decent and honest. Those are qualities that I’d appreciate anywhere, but seem even more important in a chief of police. And he seemed smart, a quality that seems all too rare in government these days. Our community lacks some of the leadership that it had a month ago.
I voted for Bill Clinton, and probably will again. That doesn’t mean, though, that I’m satisfied with his performance.
His political values are good — that means that they generally match mine — but he’s not the leader I’d wish him to be. Being a president, after all, is mostly about leadership, demonstrating what George Bush called “that vision thing,” and if the president isn’t being a leader, we have a problem. People worry about finite energy supplies, pollution, an everincreasing population, poverty, and high crime. Those are all valid worries, and I’m glad that others are concerned and investing their time and energy there.
For me, though, I’m concerned about leadership.
The messes that we’ve inherited and those we’ve created ourselves didn’t form overnight. Their solutions are neither quick nor cheap. Under the best of circumstances, improving our community — not to mention our country and our world — seems very difficult. Without leaders, it is impossible. It’s December 1995. Where are our leaders?
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1995.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1995_12.pdf, printed page(s) 8, 7; PDF page(s) 8, 7.
