Thoughts from the Middle

Leadership:  The Good and the Bad

By Robert James Fischer

What is Leadership?

When we think of great leaders, people like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King often come to mind.  The term “leader” is difficult to define since it is often used along with power, management, control, and other terms familiar to the study of government and business.  However, there are some common denominators.  Leadership is a group phenomenon that involves the process of influence of an individual over a group.  Thus it goes without saying that there is NO leader without followers.

Is someone who uses their power (authority) and control, using rewards and punishment to gain compliance with their wishes, a leader?  Ask the subordinates!  The the perception of followers is important.  Is it possible for some people to view a person in authority as a good  leader, and yet others to view him/her as a bad leader?  Certainly!  Consider some American leaders of the past few decades.  Was Richard Nixon a good leader?  It depends on who you ask!  The same might be said of Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. 

Is there a measurement that accurately measures the various view of a specific leader?

Yes. Public opinion, supported by the weight of historical perspective (long and short term), is the best way to determine if an authority figure is “good” or “bad” for the majority of those impacted.    

As a retired college professor who taught leadership courses in an academic setting, and leadership programs for sheriffs and police chiefs, I have come to the conclusion that good leadership is partially measured by the integrity and ethics of the individual during a given event or time.  But what does this belief mean in today’s environment in the United States?  I believe that the current environment, (which includes COVID 19 and its related problems, political polarization, increasing economic disparity, and racial unrest), requires a strong and ethical leader. 

The question is, do we currently have strong, ethical leaders running our nation?  There are certainly some who fit this mold.  Still others fail miserably.  Ethical and strong leadership was, in my opinion, exhibited by some former Presidents such as Barrack Obama and George Bush.  (although, some would disagree with this assessment).  On the other hand, given his handling of the previously listed issues, I believe that while President Donald Trump views himself as a strong leader, he is unethical and lacks integrity.  Likewise, Mitch McConnell, while able to maintain control over the Republican Caucus, fails both the and integrity criteria.  The blatant use of his position to control what the Senate hears (i.e., bills) constitutes misuse of his power, since it is far too often used for only political gain and not for the best interest of the nation.

The American people need to do a better job of assessing the personal qualities of those we elect to represent us in shaping national policies.  But, this is not easy considering all the “mudslinging” and misinformation presented by some media. As a nation of many different views, we will likely never agree on what is best, but we should be allowed to freely discuss our views and options.  Citizens need to learn how to evaluate candidates and possess the skills to identify accurate information versus “fake news”.  It is only through clear, open, and honest discussions and the ability to identify creditable versus non-creditable news sources, that a democracy can survive.