Today, I shared an article on LinkedIn from U.S. News1 that discusses the evolution of leadership, moving from the concept of a “strongman” leader—presumably referring to the authoritarian and inflexible type—to a more collaborative approach. The article highlights a survey conducted by U.S. News and The Harris Poll, identifying the most important traits for a successful modern leader. Interestingly, four out of the top five traits (Trustworthy, Honest, Hard-Working, Ethical, and Loyal) are associated with morality.
The article suggests that scandals and abuses of power have become more prominent in people’s minds, leading individuals to place greater emphasis on integrity than before. The article states, “Leadership exists in a much more public domain, and the ability of a leader to hide behind ethical lapses, no matter how effective they may be otherwise, is much more constrained than it once was.”
While the article primarily focuses on business leaders and the positive impact of a collaborative environment on innovation and the bottom line, a pertinent question arises: Why aren’t we applying the same standards to our government officials? Shouldn’t we be selecting the President of the United States, congress members, governors, and mayors based on similar traits?
It’s evident that the same standards are not being applied, as leaders from both parties engage in endless political fights rather than prioritizing the needs of the people and our nation. In the Army, I learned that people are the most valuable asset. Leading and taking care of Soldiers and their families was our priority. We knew that advanced weapons and equipment are of little value if those operating them aren’t well-cared for. At the end of the day, it’s the Soldiers, not the equipment, that win wars.
In contrast, our elected officials, at all levels, seem to prioritize personal gains over the welfare of our nation. Perhaps, if we focus on electing individuals who are trustworthy, honest, and ethical to lead and formulate laws in this country, we can transition from darkness to become the light of the world.
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 
I’ve heard the term “servant leader” which has positive qualities. It is a balance though. A good leader can be put into a position where the right decision is unpopular.
But more often the qualities that help a person rise to a leadership position aren’t always good ones. And the demands of leadership don’t always encourage good people to want the role.
It is tough after all, if you are doing it right.
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Servant leadership is definitely a good goal. Collaboration in decision making and developing your team so they can reach their full potential is key. Leadership is hard work and it demands that you build relationships all around you. Once you build those relationships and earn their trust then you can make unpopular decisions and still have their support. Leaders get into trouble when they don’t solicit feedback from the team and try to go solo. Thank you for your comments and insights. Very helpful.
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I appreciate this post very much. We do call the leadership to the carpet. Some may say who are we to do this. We are the people who elect officials. I would like to pose a question. Have we lost our standards of honesty, trust, ethics, etc.?
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Not completely. There are some good people out there but with everything that is going on it looks like it’s getting hard to find them. Thank you for your comments.
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I think the people in leadership definitely have.
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