Leadership and Power
Where does the power of leadership come from? If elected, your power comes for a confirmation from the people, an election and maybe even some powerful endorsements. Considering the election just happened, it's impossible to ignore the relevance that it poses.
Romney has experience in industry, founding a booming business and has a plethora of political experience. But how do we know if any of this qualifies him to be a good President? What is the experience or credentials necessary to confirm our belief in a candidate's worthiness? The campaign is meant to instill confidence in your electorate by meeting them on their own terms, in their own state. Persuasion is needed to give something of an illusion that a candidate is capable of handling situations that no one can predict. How could anyone have foreseen Katrina, the recession or 9/11? What prepares a person to deal with a situation like that? It's about building that confidence in your skill set that you will be able to handle situations that you may need to work your way through, with no set blue print.
Everyone's Business
This notion makes me think about how leaders need to be relatively transparent when it comes to their decision making process. If people feel like their input is important and has an effect, they will have more confidence in all decisions made. If there is solid evidence behind your decisions when questioned, few will ever question. Most importantly though, if those that you are leaders of feel like they have invested their time/skills into the project, they will more likely: be happy with the turnout, be invested in the success of the project, and support throughout the process. With constituent support, anything can happen.
Example of a failure: Obama installing universal healthcare with almost no Republican input. Result: everyone single republican in the house denied it. If he had conversed with more of the people that most oppose him, he could have made some small compromises that would have gained some support.
I won't be at class today as I will be halfway to Pittsburgh for an interview with PNC when class starts. I'll be there in spirit tho.
Cheers,
Nick
Hey Nick!
ReplyDeleteI like your point that how you link "leadership is everyone's business" to a more transparent decision making process. I agree that if we involve more people in the decision making process, we will have a better outcome and people are more invested into the decision because their opinions are heard and discussed.
Good luck on your interview!
Jiaxi
Nick,
ReplyDeleteI really like the relevance of your post with the 2012 election now behind us. I agree as well that when more people are involved in any decision making input, the output creates an atmosphere of an even greater proportion to where those people not only had a say into what is going to be implemented but have the notion of contribution. Likewise with the connection to the healthcare bill; it was not only terrible PR to run the bill without any support from even one Republican but it was a missed opportunity for the Obama administration. More voices = more support = Leadership is everyone's business.
Good luck on the interview man!
- Jesse