Leadingtoday

Where Have All the Leader’s Gone?

Coach — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:24:30 +0000

Recently Harvard University’s annual National Leadership Index found that 80% of the public saw the United States in a leadership crisis! This is up from 77% in 2007, and 65% in 2005. From a low 20% approval rating of President George Bush, to CEO’s… the absence of leadership is obvious. For example, in the first nine months of 2008 there were 1,132 CEO departures and this is on pace to break the record of 1,478 in 2006.

Bruce Avolio, director of the Foster Center of Leadership at the University of Washington in Seattle has stated, “For whatever reason, the public is losing tolerance for anything that goes wrong and has higher expectations for what goes right.”

Maybe people are just sick and tired of lies, incompetence and self-absorbed behavior disguising itself as leadership. It is time to make anyone and everyone accountable and responsible for their performance and conduct in politics and business.

Thoughts for “Spoiled Brats” to Ponder

Coach — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:07:09 +0000

Recently I received an email with some powerful comments. The remarks are attributed to late night talk-show host David Letterman. Like many emails received on the Internet this may be a myth. If this was written, or stated by Mr. Letterman … I commend him for his frankness and clarity. It would be a side of David Letterman we rarely see! If not, the comments are still worth serious consideration. Because Western culture has lost its grip on leadership we have forgotten all the good things we have, and how we appear to others in the world who look to us for leadership. Everyone who is blessed to live in a Western democracy should be reminded of these things.

“As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it … are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the “Media” told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ‘dishonorable’ discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way … Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative. With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’

- David Letterman (?)

“Time For Another French Revolution!”

Coach — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:20:06 +0000

: Didier Bourguet

At one time in history the nation of France was one of the most proud civilizations in the world. That once was true, but its decline redefines the term “free-fall”. A few weeks ago a French judge gave a sentence of nine years to a man named Didier Bourguet. What crime did Mr. Bourguet commit? Perhaps robbing a bank or selling illegal drugs? No … he had committed at least 20 rapes of young minor girls in two different African nations. He also possessed pedophile pornography. How was this possible you ask? He was responsible for the maintenance of United Nations peacekeeping vehicles. Here is a 44-year-old man who has raped over 20 girls between the ages of 12 and 18. What powerful defense did Mr. Bourguet and his attorney have? The sex was consensual, or he didn’t know they were underage. Wow … what a powerful convincing explanation.

This is just another example of the void of leadership and justice that exists in the nation of France in the 21st century. The sentence is a mockery of justice and an insult to human dignity. Maybe because they were “African” girls, they were not considered complete human beings!

It’s time for another French revolution.

What are your comments …

“Wood Ticks, Dear Ticks, and Politics… They’s All Parasites”

Coach — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:39:52 +0000

Many years ago when I lived in North Carolina I remember a saying from my old friend Billy Winstead. Every time an election would come around he would utter in his native Carolina twang… “wood ticks, dear ticks and politics… they’s all parasites!”

Here we are in another American election season. All the candidates tell us that they have the leadership qualities needed to move the United States in a better direction. But when all is said and done, much more will be said and promised than is ever done. Here are some things to remember as you listen to the Presidential candidates.

1. Presidents don’t make laws… congress does. Be careful of all the things any candidate tells you he or she will do. Without the consent of Congress it is all empty and wishful thinking. Don’t give any president more credit (or criticism) than they deserve. As an executive… the President has limited powers. The strength of the office is in having a “bully pulpit” that can go directly to the American people to pressure Congress to act.

2. Political parties don’t provide leadership, people do. Great Presidents have never been afraid to ignore their party affiliation or platform if it is in contradiction with the best interests of the American people. We need free-thinkers who have a solid core of values, not more lemmings who are beholden to their political parties.

3. If we want the “brightest and the best” to be our political leaders, we will need to change the corrupt dysfunctional system that has evolved. Right now the “brightest and the best” will not submit themselves or their families to the existing political hazing process. Instead they start businesses or serve their communities in other ways. Today our candidates… from every party… are not the brightest and the best America has to offer, but the “related” to someone and the rest. Cronyism and nepotism are cancers that will eventually destroy any organization.

For the next two months we will hear promises, and more promises. It is all hype and only intended to tell us what they think we want to hear. I suggest you choose your candidate by observing their degree of character and integrity. The weLEAD “leadership tip” Behaviors and Traits may give you something to think about. It mentions the kind of person we should all desire as President of the United States.

Welcome to weLEAD’s New Blog

Coach — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:48:34 +0000

For years we have been encouraged to have a leadership blog as part of the weLEAD website. I am pleased to finally offer one that I believe can make a difference. The purpose of this blog will be to discuss the leadership (or lack of it) that permeates every part of our society. Without taking a narrow partisan approach to politics, religion, culture or organizations… I will discuss why leadership is so desperately needed in our complex modern world. Furthermore, I will use my experience as a college professor to teach what works… what doesn’t, and why! Of course, your comments and participation are always welcome.

I am a firm believer in “personal leadership.” If you google the term “personal leadership” you will find that #1 (the top of the list) is an article I wrote in weLEAD Online Magazine in 2002. It is entitled Just What is Personal Leadership. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read this article. It will reveal to you the heart and core of weLEAD and “yours truly.”

Be sure to let me know about any topics you feel can create a lively an informative discussion!

Greg