Management versus Leadership
Since he declared himself a presidential candidate, seeking the 2016 nomination of the Republican Party, Donald Trump has said a lot of things. Many of them are excellent examples to define the difference between being a great manager and being a great leader.'
There is no doubt that Mr. Trump has proven his abilities as a manager. Ignoring his specious claims that successful businesses file for bankruptcy protection all the time, and the fact he was born with a platinum-spoon level empire amassed by his father; the fact remains he has enjoyed tremendous success as a business operator. As an entrepreneur. But he is not a leader.
Leaders lead by example. The only example we have seen from Mr. Trump is that everything is about the Donald. He's the lead singer and conductor of the one-man band that keeps extolling his own virtues and successes. He talks about making America great, but not about how he specifically plans to help improve the lives of Americans.
It is in this most recent incident he shows his true lack of the moral fiber, the characteristics of a leader. At a speech, one of the audience members made an incorrect statement, claiming that President Obama is a Muslim. Anyone who is in touch with reality knows this to be false. Mr. Trump said nothing to correct this mistake.
In response to the hue and outcry, Mr. Trump wrote the following, "Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don’t think so!" Now the initial response by the Trump campaign to the controversy was for campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to claim that the candidate hadn't heard the question. A nice prevarication, but the actual words written by Mr. Trump make it far worse.
He is correct by the way. He does not have a moral obligation to defend the president. That's the position of a a manager. Do only that which you are obligated to do. Leaders go beyond the obligation. They do the right thing without regard to whether or not they have any moral or legal, or even ethical obligation to do so. It's an automatic response of a great leader. Do that which is right rather than that which is legally defensible.
Then Mr. Trump went further. "If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance." He may be right. He might be wrong. But it's irrelevant in terms of what he should do. The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, not to do unto others how you think they would do unto you. Trump's version of the golden rule is more like my late father's. He who has the gold makes the rules. That may be a trademark of a great manager, but it clearly demonstrates a complete and utter lack of leadership.
Mr. Trump also managed to give us other examples of his junior-high schoolyard bully mentality this week. Asked the first question at the Republican Debate, his first words in response were an ad hominem attack on Senator Rand Paul and his presence on the stage. Unnecessary, rude and downright mean-spirited. A cheap shot from a past master of cheap shots.
Great for entertainment value. But not something that should be said by a future president.
There is no doubt that Mr. Trump has proven his abilities as a manager. Ignoring his specious claims that successful businesses file for bankruptcy protection all the time, and the fact he was born with a platinum-spoon level empire amassed by his father; the fact remains he has enjoyed tremendous success as a business operator. As an entrepreneur. But he is not a leader.
Leaders lead by example. The only example we have seen from Mr. Trump is that everything is about the Donald. He's the lead singer and conductor of the one-man band that keeps extolling his own virtues and successes. He talks about making America great, but not about how he specifically plans to help improve the lives of Americans.
It is in this most recent incident he shows his true lack of the moral fiber, the characteristics of a leader. At a speech, one of the audience members made an incorrect statement, claiming that President Obama is a Muslim. Anyone who is in touch with reality knows this to be false. Mr. Trump said nothing to correct this mistake.
In response to the hue and outcry, Mr. Trump wrote the following, "Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don’t think so!" Now the initial response by the Trump campaign to the controversy was for campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to claim that the candidate hadn't heard the question. A nice prevarication, but the actual words written by Mr. Trump make it far worse.
He is correct by the way. He does not have a moral obligation to defend the president. That's the position of a a manager. Do only that which you are obligated to do. Leaders go beyond the obligation. They do the right thing without regard to whether or not they have any moral or legal, or even ethical obligation to do so. It's an automatic response of a great leader. Do that which is right rather than that which is legally defensible.
Then Mr. Trump went further. "If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance." He may be right. He might be wrong. But it's irrelevant in terms of what he should do. The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, not to do unto others how you think they would do unto you. Trump's version of the golden rule is more like my late father's. He who has the gold makes the rules. That may be a trademark of a great manager, but it clearly demonstrates a complete and utter lack of leadership.
Mr. Trump also managed to give us other examples of his junior-high schoolyard bully mentality this week. Asked the first question at the Republican Debate, his first words in response were an ad hominem attack on Senator Rand Paul and his presence on the stage. Unnecessary, rude and downright mean-spirited. A cheap shot from a past master of cheap shots.
Great for entertainment value. But not something that should be said by a future president.
posted by me at 8:11 PM
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