“Who’s the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him?” (watch)
…or foolS who follow him…
Mayors and chief elected officials in large cities are not experts in city and county government any more than they are in small towns and cities. They own businesses. They use their business experience and name recognition to get elected. The citizens who elect them understand name recognition and political influence. Politics and the governmental political structure being what it is, the larger the city or county, the more likely that a new Mayor or County Commissioner has patronage privileges and brings in his/her direct reports. This typically happens in strong Mayor-Council forms of government, which mirror state and federal governmental structure.
Blind Loyalty
These bureaucrats have one job- blind loyalty. There are two rules:
- The chief elected official is always right.
- And, when in doubt, see rule #1
This is not typically the case in smaller governments, most of which operate under a Council-Manager or Alderman-Manager form of government. These cities and towns hire a City Manager, or equivalent, to manage the day-to-day operations of the municipality. Consequently, those responsibilities will include hiring and firing personnel, therefore, patronage is (usually) not an issue.
Blind Loyalty Part 2
In contrast to the above example, you sometimes see the reverse occur. The City or County Manager/Administrator, having been the constant through an election, now has “power” through institutional knowledge. Weak (cowardly) elected officials allow themselves to be the directed, rather than the directors. They develop blind loyalty to the staff member they are supposed to supervise. On one hand, you can have a “I know it all, that’s why I was elected” mindset. On the other, you can have a “I was just elected and know little or nothing so I will do what the staff member tells me to do.” Which is better? Which is worse? You tell me. Either is an example of a fool who follows.
Speaking truth to power is a tool that every true leader must have and be willing to use- at any level and in any position. A true leader realizes that using it may be to their detriment. It’s a tough, and sometimes no-win, situation. I’ve lived it- maybe you have as well. Risk your job and say what needs to be said, or “play along.” State to the strong Mayor that he is violating established policies and procedures, and risk your job. Set high standards and risk losing a long-standing employee or employees with institutional knowledge, or, allow them to set policy.
Therefore, when you wake up tomorrow morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and ask yourself the following:
Are the standards you set for yourself higher than the standards where you work? Will you speak truth to power? Can you do the right thing, especially when it’s not easy?
Or………Are you the fool who follows? A cowardly leader? The choice is yours. It always is.
I-4
