Between the political inaction in Washington and the institutional crises at Penn State and UC-Davis, there has been much said in the media about a lack of leadership in our most powerful institutions. As someone whose career it is to help professionals become more effective leaders, I felt compelled to respond. However, every time I started to write, I heard The Voice in the Head (please refer to two blogs ago for a full explanation of The Voice) say, "Who do you think you are? What gives you any authority to say anything?". Just when I started to do something else other than write this blog, I looked down at my mouse pad. My mouse pad has a quote from Gandhi written on it, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Okay, universe - thanks for the message. This blog is my attempt to be the change I wish to see. So, I told my Voice in the Head to be quiet and let me write.
As someone who has studied leadership and done my best to practice it, I have given a lot of thought to both what is going on in Washington and the situations at Penn State and UC-Davis. For some perspective other than my own, I turned to one of my favorite models of leadership - Kouzes and Posner's. To review, here are their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership and The Ten Commitments of Leadership:
Model the Way
Find your voice by clarifying your personal values
Set the example by aligning actions with shared values
Inspire a Shared Vision
Envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities
Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations
Challenge the Process
Search for opportunities by seeking innovative ways to change, grow and improve
Experiment and take risks by constantly generating small wins and learning from mistakes
Enable Others to Act
Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust
Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion
Encourage the Heart
Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence
Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community
Based on this framework, how would you assess leadership in Washington, Penn State and UC-Davis? In Washington, they are not following Commitment #4 - Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations. Both political parties seem more concerned with keeping the special interests representing their wings "happy" rather than focus on what we - the American people - want. They have lost sight of our shared aspirations as Americans. We have much more in common than we differ.
As for Penn State and UC-Davis, I look at Commitment #2 - Set the example by aligning actions with shared values. I fully realize I am outsider looking in and don't have the complete picture of the situations at Penn State and UC-Davis, but based on my limited information, it seems that the leadership of both institutions lost sight of their institutional values and made decisions in stark opposition to those values.
I fully believe in the saying "It is darkest before the dawn." I believe this is a transformational time. As we have witnessed with both the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements, people are re-engaging with the political process. The stalemate in Washington cannot last and will result in fundamental change (I believe positive). I also believe that Penn State and UC-Davis will come through their crises stronger institutions.
Washington needs to be reminded of the common ground we all stand on rather than continuing the blame game - who is right and who is wrong. Penn State and UC-Davis need to focus on what makes them great institutions and how they can use their strengths to create a new future - one that is fully aligned with their values.
What can we do? We can continue to develop and grow as leaders and give our teams the opportunity to do the same. We are all works in progress!