Leadership

Much has been written over the decades about leadership, particularly with respect to the business world. Many have lamented the overall lack of leaders in society who have true moral authority, much less moral courage. Concomitantly, we have also experienced a dearth of heroes we can hold up to our children as people to emulate. We have (seemingly, inexplicably) morphed into a culture that worships celebrity more than responsibility or even integrity. The more I experience, the more challenging it has become for me to be inspired by those in “leadership” roles, especially when so many have attained their positions because of privilege, nepotism, heredity, or even failing up.

In business, a whole cottage industry has evolved around coaching, networking, and even ghostwriting as strategies to become and/or retain a role as a leader. While I am a huge advocate of Continuous Learning as a way of living both personally and professionally, I am not convinced leadership is a skill you can just learn and apply to all aspects of life. A leader in one area/field/organization does not necessarily translate into being a leader in something else. Most people I consider to be good leaders have a set of qualities that must be nurtured from birth: decency, integrity, honesty, empathy, morality, compassion, emotional intelligence, and communication capabilities. Parents must actually model these things consistently for children to value and ultimately live them. Teachers and community leaders must do the same to reinforce their importance. 

Nurturing the next generation of leaders also requires providing children, teenagers, and young adults a diversity of experiences and perspectives. This can come from reading, traveling, friendships, and exposure to different cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances. They must be taught critical thinking, as well as civic responsibility. Instant gratification must give way to a long-term mindset. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they must get comfortable with complexity and uncertainty. The ability to learn, re-learn, unlearn, pivot, and do so with confidence is difficult for most people but the capability is critical in an ever-changing world. Global context is also crucial: 2022 is a perfect example of why leaders must know how to tackle problems incorporating the challenges posed by shifting geopolitical and/or global health crises such as supply chain and cyberattacks.

I am grateful for the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His courage, patriotism, determination, compassion, advocacy, and communication skills inspire not just the people of Ukraine, but the whole world. He morphed from “just” leading his country to saving his country. No world leader faces the kind of challenges he does: a neighboring tyrant committing genocide and war crimes during an illegal invasion of their country’s sovereign territory. In the face of the worst of humanity, President Zelenskyy puts the long-term interests of his people and his country first. His superior communication and advocacy skills enable him to get results for his people. His stamina, sincerity, and empathy make him the kind of leader we want our children to grow up to be.