Identifying Leaders
“Produce great men, the rest follows” Walt Whitman
Identifying Leaders
In Looking for the best candidate to lead in protecting and
developing our country we have long sense learned that it is not a
matter of specifying the extraordinary personal qualities
appropriate to ideal casting. The mixture of qualities is perhaps
the best indicator of the superb leader for which we search.
Strategic Vision however is one of the integrating
capabilities which is key to superb leaders and it stems from
Knowledge of history, Experience and
Intelligence. There are many people with these
characteristics but the crucial factor necessary to apply this
strategic vision requires the facility of Charismatic
Speaking Ability to sell that vision, first to the public,
then to Congress and last but not least to the separate departments
of government.
Those who believe in laundry lists insist on Character and Integrity
as part of the list. There are those who think of integrity in
Christian terms of "turn the other cheek" and that this can be
applied to the relations with other nations. Christ however was
selling a code between individuals. Jimmy Carter was a man of
integrity but one of our worst recent presidents. The difficulty is
not that Character and Integrity do not apply but the application of
those virtues requires different application in a world filled with
nation states and non-state tribes bent on destruction.
Strategic Vision Requires Integration of More Variables Than A Chess Master
Public Opinion In a democracy an important variable
impinges on when a leader may divulge his vision. First there is what
the public is ready to accept or demands. This type of public vision is
most often seen in the pre-election phase but even after election a
leader cannot get too far ahead of followers. The second type vision is
the private or strategic vision that an intelligent, experienced leader
knows should be done but is restrained because the people or Congress
are not ready to consider.
Priorities A second variable is the question of
priorities and priorities are not always under the control of the
leader.
Opportunity A third important variable is the question
of waiting for opportunity. It is true that some leaders find ways to
create crisis which opens up opportunity for major change.
Superior political leadership must have: Integrity, Vision,
Common sense, and must be well-spoken and have a capacity to make hard
decisions. We have discussed known recent Presidents and
candidates, not because they are the best examples, but because they
should be within current knowledge of most people. We use these examples
knowing that "politics is local" and State and local politician leaders
need the same qualities.
While integrity is essential it has frequently been
overlooked in politicians who had a vision and were well-spoken. Clinton
is a possible example of a well spoken leader who lacked integrity.
Politicians who are guided solely by polls, who have demonstrated a
willingness to, "promise anything as long as it will get me elected",
lack integrity/
Vision is the unusual ability to forecast where events
are trending and what measures are required and possible in this age and
time. While is essential is is not enough. It is perhaps best gaged by
demonstrated ability in forecasting and adopting of appropriate
measures. Bush the elder is possibly an example of the failure of a
bureaucratic "in box outfox" approach to leadership of little vision.
Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan are examples of what well-spoken vision
can accomplish when combined with the other traits ,
Common sense is an uncommon thing. Some of the most
intelligent people totally lack it but people with common sense have a
quality superior to those with intelligence by lacking common sense.
Clinton and Nixon apparently let sexual drive and paranoia override
their intelligence and their lack of common sense severely damaged the
nation. Lack of common sense is frequently more easy to identify than
possession.
Capacity to make hard decisions can be called by many
names but is more frequently exhibited when leaders are required to
cause damage to individuals or a larger group for the benefit of the
many. It is most easily demonstrated in successful combat leaders who
have the understanding that some must die. Not all potential leaders
have such experience and having such experience does not insure that the
other required qualities are present.
In some cases the absence of the capacity to make hard decisions can
best be seen in those who are convinced that Love and negotiation can
cure all problems. Carter is an example of this. Integrity,intelligence
and love Carter had in spades and in electing him the nation filled a
pressing need for those things and overlooked proved experience in
making hard decisions. His obsession with detail may also be an
indicator of a potential leader who lacks the ability to make hard
decisions.
“The Great man of the age is the one who can put into words the will of his age, tell his age what its will is, and accomplish it. What he does is the heart and essence of his age, he actualizes his age” Hegel
Being well-spoken is probably an easier acquired
trait yet many politicians fail to attain the required measure. Both
Bush the younger and Gore have the intelligence and education that would
promise such a quality but they both lack the knack of speaking well and
inspiring trust. Lacking that quality lead many to question their
intelligence and other required qualities. Had either party chosen an
individual with this quality the last election would have been a
walk-away.
Charisma can stem from this ability and Clinton's
apologists are obviously charmed despite his lack of other qualities.
Without this quality. leadership is difficult and trust and confidence
is impaired. A well-spoken person can accomplish a magical trick in hard
times and that is to inspire hope when there are few reasons for hope.
The Most Important Phase of Strategic Vision
Strategic vision is of not great value unless it has an "Activation
Concept". The perception of many unsophisticated people is that a
strategy is a hazy bureaucratic effort that is designed by a staff after
one gets into power.In effective truth strategies or visions are laid
out in steps; (1) there is the "promise vision" of what an aspiring
leader will do in an election, (2) once in office there is the
"coordination vision and strategy" that is developed with the
organization and (3) finally there is the "crisis reaction and
opportunity" strategic vision.
This third and final part is the most demanding of leadership for in
this vision is concealed the things that a President knows should be
done but which cannot be addressed until the people and congress are
ready. In this bag might well be the use of a "declaration of War" for
terrorists acts or "Emergency legislation" to put in place energy reform
that is now locked out of possibility by the agricultural and oil
lobbies.
The activation plan is covered in more detail in strategy but it is
essential to understand that strategies and visions are not done by
staffs but are the very essence of effective leadership. One of the more
egregious failures of the Bush II presidency was the lack of a vision
for "crisis reaction and opportunity". This stemmed from Bush IIs
disdain for "vision". This is not unusual for many leaders but it is a
great evil for Presidential leadership.
Other Factors
When the country is in a funk as it seems to be in 2008 "Change"
becomes a magic mantra for those
Identifying and eliminating losers, crooks and the corrupt. Sometimes
the more important question in local politics is how do you identify and
defeat the losers, crooks and morally corrupt that everyone knows is a
crook or corrupt but the populace finds attractive. We'll leave that
question for a later time. Perhaps the attraction is some see this
corruption as "gumption" --the ability to do something that they might
not dare
We talk of leaders having vision. We intend to explore some examples of
issues and potential leader visions. We will try to do so without
abusing our position as honest broker. A national-level leader should
have some idea of what opportunities might exist for positive solutions
to serious questions. When we have jointly worked the issues each vision
should become more clear.
A Strategic Vision Must Address The Major Issues - Some Examples Follow
What should be done about Energy and the Environment.
Since carbon appears to be a major problem one issue cannot be addressed
without the other.
What should we do about the reconstruction of Afghanistan?
According to most reports the rebuilding of a Afghanistan is
failing despite the large amount of funds being pumped in by
Non-governmental organizations. How should or could an effort like the
Marshall plan be constructed for Afghanistan. How can we help convert
the armed bands and insure that technologists required are available in
country? Do we face the same problem if the Iraq conflict occurs?
What should the U.S. position on Iran be and how can we get
there? While Iran still has serious problems with oversight
rule by religious leaders there is a serious push by democratic elements
for a real democracy.
In terms of responding to psychopaths, is there an alternative
to war and the killing of innocents? Those who despair of war
might seriously consider the establishment of a new international court
empowered to try, convict, and sentence psychopathic national leaders.
Liberals and conservatives alike might find the establishment of such a
court both humane and effective. A leader however must have a vision of
how to deal with these type individuals
Since the United Nations is unable to act forcefully against
tyrants and NATO no longer has adequate military strength how should the
U.S. and it's allies effect action against tyrants, terrorism and
societies without order.
The creation of regional defense agreements is recognized under the
United Nations. Is it time to generate permanent organizations for the
Middle East and for Africa? Could a more responsive command structure
and troops be created or assigned? Turkey, the Emirates and Egypt could
provide part of structure. Could it be time to arm and create a "Free
Legion" from the dispossessed of the regions with support for families
of participants?
Nation Building
What should be our new approach to "Nation Building", the term we use
for what we do after we use military force to rectify violence within a
nation state. Vietnam, Haiti Bosnia, and now Afghanistan are examples of
failure and incipient failure. The problem is that we have tended to
leave it to the UN to solve this problem and the U.N. as well as our own
efforts in Haiti and Bosnia, as prime examples, do not inspire
confidence.
Self-interest is the glue of effective relations between most states and
long term self-interest is the best glue. Instead of getting countries
to commit funds for use by an NGO or the U.N. we need to go back to a
slightly modified method on insuring individual state self interest in
assisting in Nation building. In Afghanistan for instance we should have
asked for state support and participation in "sectors" of the
Afghanistan economy. Canada; for large transport airlines in country for
instance. France for a commitment to intra-city rails lines. Spain to
intra-city bus lines. Japan to a revitalized education system.
Pick your country and your sector but we might offer to an individual
country the opportunity and the duty of developing the infrastructure
and the training for a revitalized sector of the country.
With this technique, and a twenty year mandate, the opportunity for self
interest to energize and drive development of a destroyed economy is
apparent. If set up so that the militarized factions are drawn into the
sector training then the manpower for continual factional fighting is
greatly diminished.
Globalization Questions: For those who think they have
all the answers or for those who have none of the answers you may want
to check what Digital Divide Data has done in Cambodia. Search Google
for some of the information.
http://www.digitaldividedata.com/about/about_mngTeam.htm
What is the value of Mandatory National Service for the country?
A leader with vision and the opportunity of propitious timing
can, with Mandatory National Service, have a major impact on improving
Citizenship, understanding between national classes and races, health
care, education, crime and the national budget. The advantages have been
proved over time. The political opposition, including leadership in
Defense, is as great as are the advantages to the nation. A national
leader with vision would talk to Charlie Moskos, a professor of
sociology at Northwestern University, who is the acknowledged authority
on the subject. The next crisis will provide the opportunity to solve
many of the Nation's problems with one program.
National Issues
What about legally enforceable Creeds or "Standards of Conduct"as
improvements on Commercial Integrity?
Ombudsman for Institutions seems to work well in other countries. Could
more use Ombudsmen assist in solving current disrespect and problems
with government?
Flat Tax with exclusion for lower earnings as more efficient and fair.
Is this the solution or is there a better way to go?
Are stringent establishment of civil contracts a way out of divorce
issues while improving child care?
Should sex that results in children or disease imply a civil contract
for support of the affected?
