Alexandersmap

    Tag: Leadership

    • The Emperor Has No Clothes

      “Stories appeal at least as strongly to listeners’ emotions as to their calculation. Social psychologists have shown repeatedly that the prestige of a spokesperson, the identities of a speaker’s friends and enemies, and the exploitation of nostalgia or grievances more strongly shape attitudinal change than the sheer merits of a rational argument do. When it comes down to it, the argument that carries the day may well be the one that exerts the strongest affective appeal, rather than the one that triumphs on debating points. For every Abraham Lincoln, whose speeches were more tightly reasoned than those of rival Stephen Douglas, we must countenance the possibility of an Adolf Hitler, who baldly appealed to the lowest common denominator of the German citizenry and found that he could dissolve reason by arousing passions.” — Howard Gardner, Leading Minds: Anatomy of Leadership

      The reasonable mind often has a headache in the climate we’re living in nowadays. The headache is populism fueled by the rise of nostalgia and grievances. Gardner’s argument rings true when considered against the backdrop of the rising popularity of autocrats across the globe. How does reason and rationality hold fast against the din of the chanting hoard? Is it any wonder most people just want to pretend it’s not happening? But we’ve seen this act before, and we know how it ends, and so we must stand up against it as if our lives depended on it.

      The trick is not just to learn how the game is played, but to master the game ourselves, that we may triumph over the best the worst offers. We must become better storytellers than those on the other side of liberalism. We aren’t “woke” for demanding personal freedom and the rights of the individual, and we can’t simply accept that dismissal from those who would bully us into submission.

      The pendulum feels like it’s swinging well to the autocratic side, but the further from the center it swings the more the gravity of the masses want to pull it back to center. The more friction the autocrats feel, the louder and more angry they’ll get. We must continue to tip the scales towards freedom and justice for all.

      The problem with this post is that it’s meant to be a logical argument. If reason dissolves in the face of passion, we must find a way through to common ground. Instead of logic, the better tactic is storytelling. Help others see the light with a modern parable revealed to them in such a way that they might reach the conclusion themselves. We all tend to believe the truth we stumble upon in our own mind more than that which is told to us.

      Our stories must be light and nimble enough that they penetrate the rapt attention of the hardened masses. To shame the reckless autocrat is to shatter their hold over the passionate mind. When the crowd realizes that the emperor has no clothes the illusion may finally be broken.

    • On Leadership

      “The ultimate impact of the leader depends most significantly on the particular story that he or she relates or embodies, and the receptions to that story on the part of audiences (or collaborators or followers).” — Howard Gardner, Leading Minds: An Anatomy of Leadership

      “Leaders and audiences traffic in many stories, but the most basic story has to do with issues of identity. And so it is the leader who succeeds in conveying a new version of a given group’s story who is likely to be effective.” — Howard Gardner, Leading Minds: An Anatomy of Leadership

      What makes someone a great leader? Isn’t it the story we embrace about them, and in turn, identity with on some deep intrinsic level? When we choose to follow someone, what exactly are we following? They make us believe in something greater within ourselves that will best be realized by joining them.

      We each strive for something better. Life is a voyage of becoming, and that voyage is full of twists and turns, ups and downs. We write our life history one of these moments at a time. That story either draws people to us or repels them. Great leaders build a story that isn’t just about them but about the greater good that they (and always: us) will reach in the quest from here to there. Stories are indeed powerful.

      Leaders may be false prophets: creators of stories that aren’t theirs. Do as I say, not as I do. We see plenty of examples of that in the world. The fastest way to get people to believe their lies is for them to point at others and demonize them, that attention is drawn away from the false god. That’s not great leadership, but it is leading others.

      The best leaders lead by example. They exemplify their story and thus amplify it that others see a path forward in following their steps. We know who the greatest of these leaders are because their stories are woven into our collective story.

      So what of us? Are we not leaders ourselves? What is our story? What are the chapters to follow? When we write a compelling story we have an opportunity to inspire others, and create a ripple. The aim isn’t to lead but to live a great life story. As with everything, we must first choose ourselves, and follow our own dream. The rest writes itself, for leaders are chosen.

    • Rise to the Role

      Reading history you learn just how violently brutal our ancestors were to each other.  Read about people being drawn and quartered, most famously William Wallace, and you shake your head at the cruelty of the slow death.  Listen to the Hardcore History podcast and every episode is about the brutality of mankind in wars from raids of Genghis Kahn to the Rape of Nanking.  This kind of horror should serve as an active deterrent for all future wars, and yet memories fade, people in leadership positions don’t learn the lessons of the past, or worse think of war in terms of a business transaction; a deal to be made, a win in the books, more for me, less for you.

      I’ve no tolerance for the ignorant in positions of power.  That old Spider Man “with great power comes great responsibility” quote is true.  But too many don’t honor that responsibility.  If you rise to a position of power, you only deserve it so much as you earn it every day in how you rise to the occasion.  Rise in embracing the lessons of history.  Rise in meeting the people you lead eye-to-eye.  Rise in acting decisively with compassion, dignity, humility and honor.

      The opposite of great responsibility is backroom betrayals, spreadsheet business decisions that destroy people’s lives, trophy hunting, and ego-driven decision-making.  Padding the bank accounts of “leaders”, but big steps back for humanity.  The world needs more honorable leaders who rise to the role.  Less power-grabbing, wealth-seeking, frail egos.  When we take our collective eye off the people grabbing for power, we’re left with few good choices at the top.  There are plenty of examples of that on the world stage, on Wall Street, and in turf wars around the globe.

      There’s hope too.  Many are rising to make the world a better place.  Public servants who take the term to heart.  Driven individuals who sacrifice time, money and position for others.  Listen to a cancer research doctor to learn what selfless purpose it.  Look at the MOSAIC Expedition on the Arctic, deliberately freezing their ship into the ice to better understand climate change.  And look at the people in the International Space Station, zipping around the globe, collaborating with each other no matter the nationality.  The mix of people changes with every mission, but they all manage to work together towards common goals. Their survival depends on it.  They’re just a fragile little ball flying around in space, highly dependent on the people around them to rise to the occasion.

      The analogy to the rest of us on Earth should be obvious, and yet we have too many people who think only of themselves, who don’t rise to the role they’re in.  They don’t seem to realize or care that our survival depends on it.  We can destroy the planet easily, we can wipe out entire cities in seconds.  We can cut down rainforests for profit, overfish for short term gain, contaminate groundwater to wring oil out of the ground, and start wars to collect on old grudges.  But we’re all living on this fragile ball flying around in space, and rising to the occasion to keep it livable for thousands of generations to come is really the only choice.

      For the individual, pointing at corrupt politicians is an easy out.  I vote, but I didn’t vote for that guy.  But too many don’t run for public office because it’s a really tough job.  You are scrutinized, berated, mocked and threatened.  Who needs that?  We all need that “Man in the Arena” hero who fights for what is right.  History favors the bold.  We need more people who rise to the role, fight through the nonsense and make the place better for having been there.  How will future generations look back at our history?  If the last three years have done anything, they’ve reignited a passionate call to serve, and I’m encouraged by the numbers of people who are rising up to say choose me instead.

      And I’m reminded once again of Walt Whitman, asking a similar question in a time of change, and I’m encouraged:

      “Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
      Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
      Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
      Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
      Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
      Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
      The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

      Answer.
      That you are here—that life exists and identity,
      That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” – Walt Whitman, O Me, O Life!

      And the next question, from Dead Poet’s Society, “What will your verse be?”