Cowardly and Courageous Leadership
Since this is the week of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (and not incidentally, the day of the Presidential inauguration), I thought I would start with this very fitting quote:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” -Dr. King
This blog is Cowardly Leadership-Up Close and Personal because its focus is on local government, i.e., how locally elected and appointed officials practice cowardly leadership. Some common traits have emerged as we identify cowardly leaders. One is, “I was elected to this (or appointed to this) position, and you weren’t, therefore I know more than you do. I have no reason to listen to you.” Cowardly leaders don’t-won’t- listen.
To help understand cowardly leadership, we need to look at both Cowardly-and Courageous- Leadership examples.
What Cowardly Elected Leaders Want
Cowardly elected leaders want the prestige. They want the public acclaim, the accolades, the title. Especially the title! They do not want the hard decisions, or to follow through on promises they made. They don’t confront their peers and fellow elected officials and say, “We aren’t doing that,” or more to the point, “You aren’t doing that-not if I can help it.” Cowardly Leaders refuse to tell those they supervise, “This is what you are going to do, whether you want to or not.” Chris Widener, author of The Angels Inside, describes it as, “a decision between an easy but poor choice versus the difficult but good choice.”
A five-year old can make easy choices. There is no leadership involved with easy choices.
I like to say, “A façade issue is just that- a façade.” Any elected official anywhere can vote on the easy stuff, and declare big victories. It’s easy to put a pretty facade on a crumbling building and say, “Look at that beautiful facade we installed!” If votes and decisions do not push the community forward, if there is no strategic vision attached, if the community isn’t economically or structurally improved, then what is the purpose?
Definitions
If everyone in positions of leadership at the local level are cowardly leaders, then no one is a cowardly leader. No one is a leader, period. We, citizens, all just accept the status quo. “That’s the way our local government works,” or “ It’s good enough for government work.” Like Chicago in the 1930s.
Cowardly leadership doesn’t really resonate until there is something to use as a baseline-a comparison. That something is courageous leadership. When is the last time you heard someone say, “Now THAT’s courageous leadership!” ? People don’t say that. They might refer to examples from the past- Martin Luther King, or Winston Churchill, but in every day life, you just don’t hear that.
The word “courageous” derives from an ancient French word, “corage,” which means “heart, innermost feelings, or temper.” I interpret “temper” to be a derivative of temperament. So-a temperament from the heart. Everyone will form their own definition, but mine is, “knowing in your heart what the right thing is, and doing it, especially when it’s difficult and you are likely to suffer.” I think heart is a key word. It implies (to me), a caring and love for other people in some way. Not a great dictionary definition, but it’s mine.
Dictionaries also equate bravery and courage. However, I think there is a distinction. Bravery, to me, is personal. Deciding to do a dangerous thing, because you think you should. Making an unpopular, but ethical, choice, knowing there is the chance it can result in physical, emotional, financial, harm to you personally.
I think of physical danger when I think of bravery.
Courage, particularly courageous leadership, brings in others. People you are responsible for. Those you supervise. People you love. You show courage in making decisions, when you know that decision affects other people.
Courageous Elected Officials Leadership
The John F Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award is the Nation’s most prestigious award for public servants. I think they have a great definition for courageous leaders: “Elected officials who govern for the greater good, even when it is not in their own interest to do so. To do what is right, rather than what is expedient.” As Caroline Kennedy says, the award is for “A public official who puts the national (state, local) interest ahead of his or her personal career.” https://www.jfklibrary.org/Events-and-Awards/Profile-in-Courage-Award.aspx
We must hold our local government officials accountable. Judge them not on what they say, but what they do. Grade them not on what they promise, but on what they deliver. Pay attention to how they speak, but also how they listen. Hold them to a higher standard than just façade issues.
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” -Winston Churchill
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