LEADERSHIP 101
As Americans, we each will have important “leader” decisions to make in November 2024: Who are the best qualified persons is to lead this great Nation? As we reflect, muster, and share thoughts and ideas, some of the significant challenges for political leaders: inflation, economy, pandemics, racism, global warming, energy, war and threats of war, inequality, unemployment, health, and partisanship. Unfortunately, amidst the absolute chaotic disaster and endless distractions—confusion, hatred, violence, party-sorting, institutional destruction, inconsistent messages, investigations, absence of governance, and deliberate, planned division that arouses emotions, passions, and prejudices—it may be difficult to relax, focus, and develop a personal perspective concerning a vision of what the country can be.
Great ideas emerge from Democrats; great ideas emerge from Republicans; great ideas emerge from Independents; and a reasoned, first step, ethical decision will be to identify leaders who are physically healthy, emotionally balanced, mentally clear, and spiritually awake; who are virtuous and morally solid persons; and who have the background, experience, interests, talents, and skills to consciously evolve and create a lasting vision of this Nation for generations to come. Essential competencies for the challenging assignments are as follows:
LEADERSHIP: Leadership is an earned, trust based, influence relationship between the respective leader, other leaders, and followers who intend ethical changes that mirror common purpose.
ETHICS: The art of being a good person and practicing goodness in everyday life. Ethical persons are masters of the authentic Self and model the way as persons; in relationships; and when skillfully helping others.
STRATEGIC VISION: Create and inspire a vision and direction for the Nation and the globe.
MISSION DRIVEN: Peace-of-mind with purpose and connections built on a foundation of compassion. Has a bias for action, for trying new things, and for getting things done.
FINANCIAL SAVY: Plans, communicates, monitors, and controls; establishes risks, solves problems, and makes sound decisions concerning economic and financial performance.
STAFFING and STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Attracts and selects talented, well-qualified people. Assesses the short and long-term needs of the institution and develops plans to improve the overall structure and talent and skills strength of the institution.
QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS: Develops, uses, and sustains strong, cooperative relationships with persons. Uses effective listening and interpersonal skills to achieve mutual trust and respect.
COMMUNICATIONS: Keeps persons informed and creates communication forums to give and receive information.
BUSINESS and POLITICAL SAVY: Has a worldview perspective, is aware and understands the implications of changes in the globe. Has “street smarts,” sizes-up situations quickly, is practical, and knows the right things to do and when to do them.
TEAM LEADERSHIP: Achieves results by motivating and inspiring a winning team. Builds commitment to common goals by communicating a sense of mission and by energizing the team. Creates an environment where differences are valued, where systems work equally well for all and wherein persons can retain their uniqueness and contribute at their full potential.
EXECUTIVE MATURITY: Acts appropriately in business, social, and political situations. Displays control in complex, ambiguous, or stressful situations. Identifies with persons, shares their values and beliefs, and is comfortable with them.
HUMAN NEEDS SATISFACTION: Is “in-tune” with mental and emotional needs of others, cares about people, and puts action plans in-place to create an environment to improve the quality of life and personal productivity that is beneficial for persons. Links recognition to accomplishment and shows appreciation and expresses pride in the team’s accomplishments.
HANDLING COMPLEXITY: Analyzes and solves complex problems. Deals effectively with large amounts of data, changing conditions, incomplete data, or uncertainty. Understands how seemingly unrelated issues interact and affect one another. Gets to the essence of complex issues quickly, generates a variety of alternative courses of action, and makes effective decisions.
IDEA LEADERSHIP: Implements breakthrough and innovative ideas, programs, and processes that make a genuine difference.
VALUES and PRINCIPLES:
Values: trust and trusted; high integrity; direct; open; honest; caring; compassionate; morality; joy; virtuous; and hope.
Principles:
-Does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.
-Objective, not self-serving, and acts in the best interests of the people being served.
-Committed to the concept of 100% responsibility: life happens because of me and not to me. Does not blame others.
-Learns from one’s own experiences in an intentional and self-directed manner and applies that learning to new challenges.
-Sets a good example for physical health, emotional balance, mental clarity, spiritual awakening, ethical behavior, and integration of hidden, subconscious reflections.
There is “more than enough of the American Dream to go around.” Leaders who are aware of, understand, and are committed to conscious evolution of this remarkable country for generations to follow will model the way, be visible, and emerge to inspire and influence virtuous and ethical action. Through teamwork, exemplary leadership, goodness, and caring attention to detail, “we” will unleash all that we are and all that we can be. Let us do the homework and select political leaders who will know where the country is and what it needs; who will be surrounded by exceptionally well-qualified associates; who will diligently work to create a worldview vision for the country; and who will lead the development of the policies and plans to evolve this country toward the vision for Americans. To wet your “re-think the vision” juices, here are some preliminary reflections: 1) Openness and self-awareness extend beyond the personal; 2) Worldview lets go of ego-self as the center and anchoring reference point from which the complex dance of persons, relationships, and experiences is viewed; 3) the Kosmos is continually evolving through us; 4) Each of us are conscious agents of evolution and the way of integrity uncovers the authentic self; and 5) We are highly intuitive, flexible, transcending and including, and leading edge. Let us put quality, common good, compassion, and virtue in all we are and all we do. We need to break the habit of doing more of the past.
