Great leaders know continuing to grow is often more about stopping certain behaviors rather than starting new ones. Too often we get stuck in our habits and believe that what got us to this point will continue to serve us as we rise. The best leaders know when it is time to shift.
In early 2023 I wrote an article about New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who demonstrated great leadership by stepping down because she said it was time.
“I’m leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility,” Ardern said in her announcement. “The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple.”
President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from seeking re-election demonstrates that he too understands that it is time and demonstrates great leadership in doing so.
Without getting into policy, comparing the leadership qualities of President Joe Biden with his predecessor and potential successor Donald Trump, it’s clear that Biden better demonstrates the qualities we most admire and seek in a successful leader. While we could argue over what these qualities might be, let’s discuss six I think most would agree upon:
Integrity – During Trump’s presidential term, The Washington Post’s fact-checkers documented 30,573 false or misleading claims for an average of about 21 per day. Though Biden has stretched the truth and made exaggerations, he is infinitely more trustworthy as a leader.
Vision – While Trump paints a dark and depressing portrait of our country (both in 2016 and 2024), he has been unable to either articulate or execute a vision for making America great. Biden promised to build back better and was able to help the country recover from a global pandemic and pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill among other things.
Communication – While neither Trump or Biden are gifted speakers—and both are better served reading from teleprompters—the former rambles on about sharks, toilets, and Hannibal Lector. Clearly, we deserve better.
Self-awareness – To really know oneself not only requires insight from our own perspective, but also from those around us. This self-awareness is all too rare and appears missing entirely from Trump as he surrounds himself with loyalists who tell him only what he wants to hear. Biden is self-aware enough to know when he is done.
Decisiveness – Great leaders know that not making a decision is still a decision. Trump failed to acknowledge the severity of a deadly virus that led to the death of more than a million Americans. Biden recognized and did what needed to be done to protect Americans and bring back our economy in that order.
Connection – Leadership cannot be demonstrated in isolation as it requires our connection with others. Stating “only I can fix it” to suggest he is best able to lead does not instill confidence in Trump or any other leader. Meanwhile, the Biden cabinet is the most diverse group of people in history as he has been able to connect with others, including those on the other side of the aisle.
Being president of this country is perhaps the most challenging leadership job in the world. Evaluating Trump based on the leadership qualities he demonstrated while president as well as how he shows up today is vital before casting your vote. Meanwhile, history will be especially kind to the choice Biden made this week.