Chapter I: Introduction
“Don’t let your members park their brains at the door” (Tom Peters)
Leadership, Really?
The experience introduced in this manuscript is not a how to be a leader directive, albeit there is encounters with leadership characteristics and styles, but rather an inspiring essential as to why one should become a leader. Within each of us lies differing levels of courage, confidence, enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge. Incorporated in each being is the willingness or reluctance to share their personal characteristics in a leadership role. Problematic to this type of discussion survives underlying motivations escalating the less qualified individual to the forefront, specifically holding “No capacity nor desire to lead.” Herein enters an essential point in this writing: How to motivate the qualified, probably yourself. In order to adequately address such a vital concern regarding leaders, leadership generally, developing leadership skills/traits, and what may work for our future leaders while remaining ethically inclined, I have chosen to break this discussion into four concrete sections. These are: Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie.
I write these sections highlighting an excessively scrutinized personality. A person of no nationally recognized prominence. A person similarly situated with most readers. A person of a thousand mistakes that perhaps the reader may associate. A person involved in a highly volatile, ever evolving, and controversial profession. The vocation of law enforcement. That person is me. A police chief/police commissioner for 28 years in three differing settings of a near 40 year policing experience, achieving continuous dissection of decisions by critics, second guessers, the knowledgeably bankrupt, and political prostitutes. I do not know of your personal situation, but I can assert with reasonable certainty that being a police chief is akin to wearing a pressure cooker as a permanent derby.
The reader may question what police leadership has in common with your occupation. Actually, everything. I submit that my job application has everything to do with leaders—parents, teachers, coaches, institutional, corporate, and organizational leaders. Regardless of your chosen vocation as a teacher, professor, manufacturer, public servant, administrative assistant, business person, and especially a parent, leadership is critical. You may not be faced with millisecond reactionary decision making related to threatening situations, but your level of jeopardy is relative to your personal situation or job description. Certainly, you have had to make decisions and often have been looked up to as the formal or informal leader—the go to person.
Additionally the diction, tone, categories, and fluctuating between first and third person, moderate citations, accompanied with associated humor is hopefully acceptable to the reader. If not, put this material down and fear not, I have been rejected by higher authority. The material is presented in a decipherable conversational style so you may take a breath during this association, and the ability to imagine yourself in any of the scenarios. What has been written here is the truth, however, I may embellish it a tad in order to make it interesting, but the presentation is without fabrications. I must, however, provide a disclaimer at this juncture: To my knowledge I have never knowingly met with Russian Agents.
An undeniable fact of the matter is that I initially was uninspired to write this script. None-the-less the simple fact is that there is really nothing new about leadership; all that can possibly be said has been said. Well look again folks because the 2016 presidential elections happened. First, it is important to recognize fact, truth, and objective reasoning in a world of constant change in order to understand leadership of any sort. So, did I mean “the Matter of Fact” or did I mean the “Fact of the Matter,” or should I resort to the definition of “is”? The Matter of Fact is defined by Merriam-Webster as: adhering to the umembellished facts; also, being plain, straightforward or unemotional, sticking to or concerned with fact and usually anger not showing emotion: He gave a matter-of-fact answer. Whereas, the Fact of the Matter, again using Merriam-Webster is used to emphasize a statement that follows: She thinks she knows what she’s talking about, but the fact of the matter is, she’s wrong.
Ergo, words matter in leading others. The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause (Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910). The fortuitous and spontaneous blurting of words in any situation has the debilitating potential of an ill-gotten brand that may have proven the demise of many a great leader. This material takes sequential effort to discuss the communication process of a leader. Maybe, just maybe a pause might provide that nan-second for thought. A maxim provided to myself during my early youthful exuberance is simply this – engage brain before opening mouth!
Leaders require followers, followers, especially in contemporary society, require authentic leaders, require mission, and mission must be developed through relationships and not by dictum. Relationships built on a house of cards is as flimsy as it sounds. Relationships built on fact, truth, and honesty will accept bumps in the road and blips on the radar, and followers are likely to remain committed to the mission. Particularly in today’s surge of new generations entering the workforce comes new expectations of organization and leaders. The new generational employee, student, participant, or follower will most likely remain loyal to a mission rather than to the organization (Reisenwitz and Iyer, 2009).
The assumption asserted (I really have to stop using the fact is) remains that most of what has been learned of leadership to date is the result of a fortuitous civil experiment in public, private, and professional life generally muddied by a contemporary concern or two. Technology has provided differing facets of research at blinding speed bombarding one with snippets of style, form, and fabric that one may not really have taken stock as to what is accurate or inaccurate. But if society is subjected to all this technology and information at our finger tips, can’t people decipher fact from fiction. There must be something of a factual basis that can simply inform society what a true leader “is.” Why then have we not observed better leaders in recent time?
Folks, just maybe the old adage, “Only in America” may be more precise than ever before. This especially in light of social media carrying the day for modern conveyance of information in a continent consumed by incessant turmoil, controversy, truth seeking (real or alternative fact), and then attempting to resort to simple conversation or sound bites in an attempt to explain highly complicated matters of mutual concern. Tweeting, Twittering, Face Booking, and Snapchatting has risen to the all-time low for American mediocrity.
With the information highway at our fingertips, at lightning speed I might add, then how is it that mediocrity is the blue plate special? Frankly, it is simple as this: standards create minimums; minimums create status quo; and status quo creates mediocrity. We reside in an atmosphere with a filet palette and a hamburger wallet. Most that have some form of faith or belief in a higher being want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there!
Albert Einstein is quoted “Question Everything.” The sixties was a shining example of that. That time period was replete with challenging authority and creating an advancement for those in society that were left out. Remember the Baby Boomers that are left, we had Woodstock, while current generation have texting. Why is it that so many people in the great country of the United States remain disenfranchised? Mediocrity, that’s how. What or why has the American voter settled for current political anarchy, shenanigans, alternative facts, and double speak? Mediocrity that’s how. Modern media in its attempt to make sense of the U.S.
2016 Presidential election has reengineered their polling and finger pointing, but who is going to take the mantle of leadership and espouse our virtues? What should the American voter look for in a leader? It really never seemed that difficult before. It just seemed that the cream always rose to the top. How then have leaders lost the trust of the American populace? Has America stalled itself on a diet of mediocrity rather than shooting for the stars? Americans used to shoot for the stars and not make fun of those that want to reach beyond the galaxy.
Immediate, deliberate, and insightful questions should levitate to the forefront providing clarity of purpose for this discussion. Simply put: What is leadership? Really, what is leadership? Is it a person of authority leading via technological social babble? Is it a person of authority decreeing self-authenticity and merely saying whatever comes to mind to retain a following? Can it be a person that simply speaks in sound bites as a leadership style? Finally, what in the world does leadership have to do with me, you ask? Really, if you have to ask, then drop what you are doing and get on the leadership train, regardless of the length of the train.
Leaders are both formal and informal take your pick, but get involved.
Has leadership, specifically in America’s political scheme, been relegated to identifying an antagonist group for assignment of blame? This while briskly stroking the flames of indignation within a base group toward opponents. Regardless if one is in agreement with the former statement, a parallel may be drawn with this technique and Nazi Germany (not unlike the style demonstrated by Hitler toward the Jews); stop and reflect. Have you permitted yourself to identify with a member of a tribe, clique, or partisan group? Why? What happened to the art of critical thinking amongst societal members?
The more I ask myself these questions I think I am becoming more energized and have been consumed with new found energy to put these thoughts on paper once again. Let us begin to absorb the material listed herein by keeping in mind the following three questions: First, who or how have those qualities that are thought to be synonymous with leadership been proclaimed as the most critical for success as a leader? Second, how has one in the role of leadership acquired abilities of leadership? And third, how many of these acquisitions and characteristics identified do you already possess?
The answer in part lies within a myriad of sanctions, controls, ambiguity, social impediments, and good old fashion doubt to the extent conventional wisdom summarizes today’s leaders as shallow with accessible style(s) characterized as another exercise in futility. One only needs to examine our current affairs of national, state, and local political leadership to find those that are attempting to legislate/regulate through polls rather than substance. The final question lies within, how many of these acquisitions and characteristics identified do you already possess?
Those in leadership positions must resist a submissive role to the polls and pledge allegiance to styles that remain flexible to attract new methods for resolution. This is consistent with public and private leaders. The following text is designed to simplify leadership theory, adding in reality, creativity, innovation, and flexibility. The cases used in examination are real, but the names of the persons involved are withheld in order to protect the innocent. As the reader peruses the contents of this discussion, consider why you should be a leader. Still, I shall sprinkle my mistakes within as examples making them your lesson in leadership.
Leadership has been around since man himself and is as obscure as is the origins of man and equally elusive. Since the beginning of time man has banned together in groups, clans, or tribes. The necessities of rules and regulations have been required in order to provide unified harmony amongst the group. Likewise, there has been a need for a leader of the group.
Generally, a leader is one that is the strongest, most fascinating, most credible, most enticing, and attentive to the security and needs of the membership. Leaders have taken on many styles and persona in order to satisfy a goal, mission, or group interest. You now ask, so why another manuscript depicting leadership? Well, perhaps this discussion is a sobering opportunity to take stock from a long laundry list of leadership styles, characteristics, and qualities of successful leaders in comparison with you the reader, a hidden leader. Are you a leader or a wannabe; do you possess the personal and professional qualities to be successful; and an attempt to answer the question as to whether these styles have been vented toward fleeting issues and are more fad than reality?
The original inspiration for this text is embedded in the reality that there is really nothing new in leadership; then the 2016 presidential election happened. A more insightful and interesting question may be why qualities discussed herein are thought to be identical with leadership or are proclaimed as the most critical for success as a leader or have simply been blown up in light of the least competent being elevated to the highest positon in the free world?
Is the Peter Principle conspicuously alive and well in the land of the free and the home of the brave? How has one in the role of leadership acquired that which is the most important body of leadership, or have they? At this point, the reader might want to recollect memories when personal criticism was levied against a leader entrusted with your organizational or personal care.
If honest with yourself, you will find thoughts such as, I can do better than this guy in my sleep. Who did this guy know to get this job? What is in the selection process for advancement around here? Sound familiar? By most accounting, many a reader has summoned thoughts such as this, if not communicated in private conversation of like minds.
Amelioration (Improvement, Enhancement, Betterment, Enrichment, Upgrading, and Amendment-Merriam-Webster) of leadership should have no bounds, no finality, and no equivocating specious theoretical imbalance. It should be an absolute that is free to all that wish to partake in the trial, experiencing heartbreak as a by-product, and willing to foster the habits recognizable in a leader with the grit of ethical authenticity. Though, should a Martian fall to earth and watch any form of media they may see “Hyperbolic Existentialism” as the style in public leaders today. Our Martian friends may look on with some curiosity and perhaps disdain for the lead dog in the pack. This means those leaders witnessed may aspire to the exaggerated or overly stated predicament of an individual’s life, confronted by the unknown, and must take responsibility for his/her actions without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong, or good or bad (Merriam-Webster). This may appear to our Martian friends as the norm in contemporary political hierarchy, particularly by those acting as the leaders of the greatest nation on earth.
Jean-Paul Sartre, a 20th century philosopher, born in Paris, France established his roots in subjectivity. His comparison of the abstract and existing objects are of interest in this discussion. Sartre, as well as other contemporary philosophers debated consciousness. Sartre posits “objects, which appear as intended are meant in the context of their acts” (Busch, 2011, p.192). I believe this characterizes an individual motive, that which may be judged by outcomes.
Significant to this discussion is that not all will agree with what is written. I say good, then what is your opinion? I say your opinion matters. The following link provides insight into the meaning of consciousness and ensuing acts.
The preceding link elucidates the quote we opened with from Tom Peters “Don’t Park Your Brains at the Door.” Leadership is a conglomeration of objects, thoughts, actions, perseverance, risk taking, and personal qualities that is mixed with enthusiasm and excitement. Sprinkle decisions with flexibility and objectivity, remain willing to learn on the fly, and bring life’s experiences with you as a guide. But never, I mean never “Park your brains at the door.” Leaders require strength, perseverance, indulgence of idea, and must rely on all that they have gained throughout life in decision making and must provide the environment for members of the organization to do the same.
The majority of what has been published regarding leadership is the result of an incidental social experiment in private and professional life generally interacting with, if not direct reaction to, pressing issues and concerns. The question posed early on in this discussion is, why you should be a leader. Chances are if you are a parent, a member of a social or professional organization, participated in athletics, or in business, you are a leader in some form or fashion. Let us collectively examine how to energize and perhaps furbish your personal talents.
A once highly touted leadership role model for America’s youth, providing inspiration and aspirations, may have since been reduced to a fool’s errand. A position of leadership and responsibility that served as the gold standard of accountability has been relegated to a burning heap of serial fabrications, deceit, mischievous blunders, of mismatched aptitude. In short, a once coveted and revered leadership role model is now situated in overly exercised buffoonery. I speak of the results of the 2016 election for the Office of the President of the United States.
How in the world did we get ourselves in this catastrophic and unfathomable situation? Ladies and gentlemen allow me to awaken you to the fact that we are a Democracy, unlike any other attempt in the free world. We are a social laboratory involved in a civic experiment that has permeated the DNA of its citizenry.
Our founding fathers (Madison, Jefferson, Washington, to name a few) penned into flaming gold a grand and glorious document that provides America the freedom to carry out this experiment. This is true for both public and private life. The ability to overcome incompetent leaders or the most sinister is well established in the U.S. Constitution and generally in organizational policy. The founding fathers inoculated the citizenry through language, guarding against the misgivings of the power elite. This however requires intestinal fortitude by other elected or appointed leaders. Thus, courage must overcome mediocracy (unremarkable qualities) that may overwhelm contemporary roles.
An astounding yet significant point that requires suggestion at this juncture is that the founders of the Constitution probably would wonder why it has taken so long for the incompetency of a Czar to penetrate the highest office of the land. The safeguards enumerated in the Constitution were enacted in anticipation of the coming of the King to the Throne of U.S. leadership. None-the-less it appears to have occurred on more than one occasion. The U.S. Constitution reduces the more inclined to egotistic behaviors toward humility demanded by leaders of prominence, say The President of the United States.
The purpose of recognizing the Constitution at this point is to establish the basis for a democracy to practice differing styles of leadership. A democracy remains an unknown entity, an experiment in civil discourse, a test of qualities real and perceived, a trial in flexibility, and the ability to provide the environments for differing leaders. This environment is eligible to each person of each level of government or business. Certainly available to parents, teachers, college professors, coaches, corporations, and organizations of all types without government overreach.
Before we venture forward, as a disclaimer, at the time of this writing I am of the same political persuasion as the current occupant of the oval office, although, I am not a supporter. Yet, I do not wish the tenant any ill-will or wish to derail his term. If the inhabitant of the oval office succeeds, then we as a country succeed and if he should fail then so we go as well.
However, I cannot help myself as I may elude to this tenant as prevalent erroneous calculations and leadership examples, merely because he gives us so damn much material to work with! After all, those that find themselves domiciled in the West Wing, is only a tenant for four or eight years.
This script is not intended as an exercise in political science, but rather why you the reader should take on the leadership mantle during your life-time. Tautologically of leadership may become a paradigm or a paradox should we not get on with this discussion. In short, leadership consists of traits, behaviors, skills, ability, and influencing environments in order to make meaningful changes (Northouse, 2018).
I have chosen a title from which to discuss and to emphasize points dealing with the attributes of leadership, the fact the reader may already possess most if not all ingredients to be a leader. This is Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie. The use of the four headings in this discussion is provided to make leadership or leadership decisions easier to understand for the reader, predominantly to coalesce the information provided. Thus, enticing the reader to take on the role of a leader and enjoy it! I hope you find the material informative, fun, and engaging. Maintain an open mind and see if we cannot breakdown old myths that may lead you into a new adventure. Remember, “Don’t park your brains at the door.”