CALLING FOR LEADERS

In November 2010, The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed entitled “How to Find a Good Leader” authored by former presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan. In her piece Noonan identified eight desired characteristics for political leaders but the characteristics could certainly describe what we search in leaders of any organization from Student Council to City Council to National Security Council. Her characteristics “in skinny” are:

Ø  When people have real leaders, there is a feeling of security

Ø  A leader is someone who first of all means it, and you can tell

Ø  Great leaders are capable of arguing for the things they believe in

Ø  Good leaders live in the real world

Ø  A leader is aware he is the object of many eyes

Ø  A leader isn’t just trying to survive for himself

Ø  A serious leader bothers to have command of the facts

Ø  A shrewd leader knows what time it is

Interestedly, sprinkled in her list are some leadership adjectives- great, good, serious, shrewd. Overall, Noonan produced a list that can withstand the tests of time and crisis. Humbly, I will add three more characteristics of good leaders we need to consider.

First, we must recognize that all leaders are flawed, some more so than others. If we elevate a leader to a pedestal, we will eventually be disappointed. Even the “great” leaders like Washington, Lincoln, Churchill, or Robert Kennedy did not reach perfection. We do indeed need leaders to be heroes but not idols. How did a good leader overcome a weakness or recover from a mistake or atone for a moral lapse? Leaders are good when they are honest about their failings.

Second, good leaders are known also by the people who surround her. Leaders are good because they are effective in working for the common good of those they serve. A large part of effectiveness for any leader is to select good advisors, whether formal or informal. Good advisors enhance the strengths of a leader and also blunt the leader’s limitations.

Third, and finally, look to what the leader has previously accomplished. In political elections voters have usually a binary choice of two leading choices. In selecting leaders for civic organizations search committees often narrow their lists down to three finalists. The experiences of candidates should be thoroughly examined not so much  in terms of the positions held but in terms of what did they accomplish. Were goals reached? Did things get done in the right way?

I am sure that there are other desired characteristics for good leaders as attested by the vast volumes of leadership books, articles, podcasts, etc. Nevertheless, Noonan’s list augmented by realizing all leaders are flawed and good leaders choose good advisors and get things done. We are calling for these folks to step forward and lead, soberly remembering we get the leaders we deserve.