The Need For Courage And Action
The truth about good leadership.
Hello dear friends!
Greetings from Ojai, one of my favorite weekend jaunts out of town with the kids. This weekend we are here celebrating my dear friend’s 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Kara!
For this week’s micro issue of my Little Black Book of hot off the press, favorite finds plus tried and true, time tested treasures, let’s dive in.
The BCW Yacht Stool by Blackman Cruz is individually crafted with natural materials of patinated brass and leather. These beauties are slated for the bar in our music room.
Mason Pearson Handy Nylon Hairbrush N3 is the newest edition to our trove of Mason Pearson brushes and combs. Finally, we have a brush that effectively and without pain, tames the tangles of my son’s super thick and curly hair.
Goop G Label Sweater Set just dropped. I bought this in fuchsia last year and loved it. Now it’s out in charcoal just in time for the cooler months.
THE LEADERSHIP TEST: Will our next president pass?
The presidential debate this past Tuesday left a lot to be desired in the way of policy talk. We didn’t learn much about how either potential president would improve the lot of voters, the country, or the country’s standing in the world. A discussion on specific policy plans and results was absent from both candidates.
Historically, one of the primary concerns of voters is the economy. According to the polls, this election is no different. As Anthony Pompliano succinctly put it, “The American economy is in a precarious position.”
He specifies why with these points…
“Inflation currently sits nearly 25% higher than the Fed’s target of 2%. Home affordability is the worst it has been in decades. The national debt is skyrocketing to more than $35 trillion. Over half the country report living paycheck-to-paycheck and tens of millions of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency payment.”
I do not sleep better kicking the can down the road, for it will be our children and our grandchildren who will inherit these untenable circumstances. Which is why it is critical for our presidential candidates to devise and articulate how they plan to address issues such as balancing our national budget and reducing our national debt. Not to mention several other key concerns affecting our country, such as climate change, gun violence, illegal immigration, international relations and global in/stability, job displacement from rapid advancements in AI, and shortcomings within our educational system.
Despite my criticisms of the candidates, I am happy that we have a woman on the ballot. If Harris wins, I hope a woman holding the most powerful position in our country, and arguably the world, will further women’s equality. I also believe the lens through which women generally look at the world is different than men. Yet these perspectives, strategies, and initiatives have not yet been given an equal seat at the table in this sphere. Perhaps a woman can take us places a man has yet to be able.
To that end, I hope that Harris starts articulating her policy plans to address the very real challenges she would be responsible for leading our country through. We need leadership, not the same old politics. True leadership.
So what is the gold standard of leadership? What constitutes a world class leader?
According to Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, two of the world’s leading researchers on the science of leadership, “If you don’t believe the messenger, you won’t believe the message.” That is to say, earning the trust from those you lead, is the most important quality of effective leadership.
But how do you build trust?
Jim and Barry tell us that you simply need to do what you say you will do. When we honor our word by following through accordingly, we prove that we are worthy of trust. That we are a person of our word. And with that, trust breeds loyalty.
I will never forget the sting of learning this lesson. I was in my very early twenties doing M&A work in San Francisco. It was the late 1990s. I was incredibly lucky to have an amazing mentor, John Harrington, Principal of Treasury at Vanguard, responsible for overseeing treasury and capital markets functions.
He took me under his wing and created opportunities for me to, not only meet giants in business, such as Mickey Drexler and Leslie Wexner, but to have a bit of their time to ask them questions, listen, and learn.
One morning I was speaking with John and I told him that later in the day I would return a book he had loaned me to read. But I didn’t. I thought it wasn’t a big deal to instead return it the next day. And when I did, John very kindly, yet very pointedly told me “Always do what you say you will do. No matter how small or insignificant you may think it is. This is one of the most important tenants in business as it is in life.” I felt embarrassed. I knew he was right. And I have never forgotten that lesson and how he cared enough about me and my future standing with others to call me out on my misjudgment and to teach me how to be better.
A similar yet nuanced paradigm of stellar leadership is being an exemplar of moral character. John Maxwell, in his book Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace, tells us “Moral authority is truly the highest form of leadership influence, and many people recognize it. It comes from possessing good values. It adds value to others. It inspires people. It helps the leader make the right decisions for the right reasons. It makes a life of words and actions that line up. We know when we’re in the presence of someone who has moral authority, and we want to follow them!”
Let’s take a look at what some of the most respected, experienced military leaders in government — whom the next U.S. President will be responsible for leading — believe is required to be an exceptional leader. A leader for whom is worth risking their life and those of their troops.
U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, two of the most senior leaders on the ground in the most intense battles of Iraq wrote in their book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, that the most important rule is to quit making excuses and instead take extreme ownership.
U.S. military legend Jim Mattis in his book Cal Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead wrote, “A leader’s role is problem solving. If you don’t like problems, stay out of leadership.”
Admiral McRaven tells us “Being a leader is an awesome responsibility. There are days when it can be frightening to know that the weight of the organization rests on your shoulders. But you must also realize that you were chosen to be the leader because you have proven yourself along the way. You have demonstrated that you know the business. You have shown that you can handle the pressures and be decisive. You have exhibited all the qualities necessary to lead.”
And I really love this next bit from McRaven. He goes on to say, “And even if none of the above holds true, now that you are the leader, you are in command. So, take the damn helm and command!”
General Colin Powell in his book It Worked For Me discusses the critical need as a leader to exude calm when in crisis thereby also calming the team so they can operate at their best. He says, “Few people make sound or sustainable decisions in an atmosphere of chaos. The more serious the situation, usually accompanied by a deadline, the more likely everyone will get excited and bounce around like water on a hot skillet. At those times I try to establish a calm zone but retain a sense of urgency. Calmness protects order, ensures that we consider all the possibilities, restores order when it breaks down, and keeps people from shouting over each other.”
Lastly, looking at leadership effectiveness from a different angle, the science of hope shows that engagement is correlated with how inspired one feels. Which means that an effective leader inspires hope — the belief that our future will be better than our present. Specifically, the research shows that 69% of people within an organization will be engaged when we lead from a place of hope versus 1% if we don’t inspire a hopeful outlook. 69% versus basically no engagement whatsoever.
To recap, an exceptional leader…
Does what they say they will do
Is an exemplar of moral authority
Takes extreme ownership in lieu of making excuses or pointing fingers
Solves problems
Steps up and leads or in military speak — commands!
Exudes calm in crisis while also creating a calm zone for the team, and
Inspires hope
We are all leaders in certain areas of our life. In less than two months, we are voting for the next executive leader of the United States. Here’s to leadership that inspires action, drives progress, and brings out the best in all of us.
Until next time, xoxo,
There are things I believe will never change. I know, 50 years ago I lived paycheck to paycheck, with expensive housing and the ever increasing national debt.
This is such an insightful piece on the qualities of leadership, especially the importance of trust. I hope our next president has these traits and leads with integrity for the better of future generations.