Much is written on leadership – caring for people, taking responsibility, earning and vesting trust, sharing burdens and credit, living by honor, preserving dignity, showing respect while setting high expectations, then putting consequences with those. Central is being someone others can count on, and by example teaching others – to be that person. Where is that now?
Most of us, looking around for leadership in our town, city, state, and nation, not to mention across corporate and academic landscapes, see weakness, ignorance, absence of courage, knowledge, independent thinking, and little concern for others of the sort that demands hard work.
Here is a core truth: The world does not need to be this way – and was not always so. Leadership, distilled to good judgment, trustworthiness, responsibility for mission and people, is achievable.
More than a historic anomaly, it can be learned and taught. Put into practice, leadership becomes a binding force, a living fractal pattern, radiating outward like a branching tree, veined leaf, frost crystals, lightning strike, expanding from one strong person to a family, to civic group, to nation.
Why do you think the United States of America has been followed, a physical and ideological beacon, for four centuries? Why have we stood the test of time, consistently attracted those of daring, courage, willing to risk all for a dream, work their hearts out, those who ached for freedom?
Because we are a nation of leaders, people who can be counted on, historically founded on the idea that we will take responsibility for our destiny, are undaunted, unbending, and will fight to the end.
That is leadership, in a person, family, town, city, state, and nation, and that is us. So, what is happening, and why have our “leaders” grown so weak? The answer is complex and simple.
The simple part is that those we call leaders are not leaders, no longer expected to be accountable, not elected with an eye toward leadership, or to be counted on. They are placeholders.
Why is that? Because, until recently, we thought government was secondary, tended to run itself, and good people would step up in both parties, occasionally a third. We could just step back.
How wrong was that? This is the complex part. To have a nation led by real leaders, those who reflect our innermost principles, emphasis on character, and judgment like our Founding Generation, Abe Lincoln, TR, Truman, Reagan, and our best citizens, we have to believe that leadership matters, our vote matters, accountability matters. That is the beginning of wisdom.
We have to believe that – just as we expect something of a mechanic, doctor, nurse, lawyer, pilot, police officer, and those to whom we trust something of value – we have a right to expect, an obligation to insist on, accountable political leadership. What matters more … than the country?
So, what do we really want? We want people in our highest elected and appointed offices, in any office, in fact in every office, whom we can genuinely – when the lights go off – count on. Period.
We want people motivated by things we think of as real leadership, good judgment, trustworthiness, responsibility for mission and people, daring and follow through, commitment to limited government, individual liberties, and freedom, so we … can exercise our own daring.
We want leaders who understand the nation’s history, appreciate, love, and honor it, not some cheap rewrite of it, not some politically motivated narrative, but the real thing, who we are.
We want depth, responsibility, accountability, and respect for the nation, and we want that to define who they are. When everything is said and done, we want them to let us live in peace, perhaps guide us, educate us, definitely protect us, but respect us – and respect truth – at all times.
Is that too much to expect? What do most want – real, thoughtful, courageous, accountable, self-limiting leadership, honesty at the top, and respect for liberty at the bottom. Give us that, and we will be happy. Nutshell, we all want someone to count on at every level, nothing more, nothing less.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.
