In today’s very mixed and occasionally shocking demonstration of leadership in the race to win the primary, and as candidates fight to win to become the next President of the U.S., it’s no wonder the definition of leadership continues to run in all directions.
There is something very special however, in how Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are winning votes. No two humans can be so different, yet so very alike. Politics aside, what Bernie and Donald are doing that Hillary, Rubio or Cruz are not, is being themselves and ignoring the game of politics. As leaders, Donald a CEO and Bernie a Senator, they have found their way through the maze of support, rallying belief from the American people by saying what they think, as unpopular as it might seem. Although I would love to see a female president, Hillary has had to play the game too long and, in my opinion, she has lost her way as an authentic leader (dating back to when she tried to bake cookies as First Lady to show she could be like former First Lady Barbara Bush). I even believe that Bernie has been her compass in some ways, bringing her back to what authentic leadership means.
With Rubio and Cruz, it’s bringing out the ugly side of politics in the Republican party. Every Republican debate (with and without Donald) has been a lot of name-calling and, yes very immature banter. It’s any wonder that this group cannot seem to organize themselves to have a clear leader and they are running afraid of what Trump might do, which is entirely destroy the GOP. And maybe it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. When is it ever appropriate to debate with such unfiltered passion? We do not learn that in school, at university, at work. We need to be dignified in how we react and treat others with respect. This display is not the kind of leadership I’d teach to young folks. And frankly, when I hear Rubio react under fire with such low EQ, I wonder how he can imagine himself as leader, at all. One might argue that Donald does the same, but look at Donald’s history. He’s always been that way. The fact that Donald has gotten this far is just plain crazy. And yet you can ALWAYS expect Donald to flip off social niceties. That’s just WHO HE IS. Whereas Rubio has come across as the polished Cuban American who happens to flip flop when it serves his ambition. Sorry. No.
Whether you like or dislike Bernie and Donald or what they represent, remember this. There is something almost magically powerful about being “real” or human as a leader – throwing the politics of pleasing too many lobbyists aside. It’s clear with Bernie and Donald that they don’t care what vocal and powerful lobbyists think, including Citizens United, AIPAC, NRA etc. And it’s enlightening.
Now the real trick for Donald is to become a better human and lead with a moral compass and with less focus on branding himself – because his campaign seems to be run solely on anger and what he stands against. It’s unclear just what he stands for. And the thought of having to censor my children from what the possibly next #unfiltered President of the United States might say is terrifying.
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