Here in the latter stages of my career, I am now questioning my knowledge, understanding and advice regarding quality leadership due to the new President of the United States. In Trump 2.0 I see dramatic examples of the opposite behaviors I urge my clients to demonstrate in great leadership.
In a post I wrote just before the election, I discussed leadership traits and how they are modeled by the candidates running for the highest office in the land. These characteristics are what I consider important to effective leadership and now that the new administration is in place, I thought I would revisit them.
Integrity – The current President told more than 30,000 false or misleading claims during his first term. The 13 biggest lies of his second term already include false statements such as Ukraine started the war against Russia and the U.S. spent $100 million on condoms for Hamas. These and others are deliberate lies meant to deceive U.S. citizens.
Intelligence – Voters may have wanted to shake things up and reduce the federal bureaucracy, but an intelligent leader would consult with advisors, create a plan, and execute with precision to ensure things improve rather than get worse. This has not been the case as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is naively using a chainsaw when he should be skillfully using a scalpel.
Energy – This President demonstrates energy when it comes to speaking to large audiences. In fact, it may be the very fuel that energizes him. And while he demonstrates a lot of energy as a candidate, this energy to effectively govern is very much in question.
Visionary – The MAGA slogan may sound good in the abstract, but the reality is that our country as well as all countries should be looking forward rather than backward. Trump’s view of tariffs is based on an insistence that we are not part of a global economy where free trade has made us prosperous and will continue to in the future.
Communication – This President has effectively communicated to many Americans who believe him regardless of the facts that counter what he says. By repeating the words “fake news,” he has successfully gotten enough voters to believe him over more objective and credible sources. Great leaders must communicate well, but used to deceive others undermines effectiveness.
Decisive – While I will concede that Trump 2.0 is decisive, I would argue that his impulsivity and devisiveness is not based on a fully informed understanding of the factors necessary to make such decisions. He is often more of a provocateur and creates chaos so he can then claim to save the day.
Emotionally Intelligent – While Trump demonstrates strengths in self-regard, assertiveness and stress tolerance, he is clearly challenged with empathy, self-awareness, and impulse control. Great leaders rely on high EQ to effectively lead others.
Accountable – “I don’t take responsibility at all,” said Trump regarding the slow rate of coronavirus testing in March 2020. Great leaders look out the window when things are going well, and in the mirror when they are not, according to author Jim Collins. Being accountable means acknowledging when you are wrong and have made mistakes.
Delegation – The President has surrounded himself with sycophants—a cabinet of individuals who are loyal to him though without the necessary skills and experience to perform effectively. If their boss delegates something to them that violates the constitution or is illegal and they execute it, then that delegation, while effective, can be catastrophic for our country.
Inspirational – Trump bullies anyone who challenges him and it was largely this “strong man” mentality that enabled him to win the election. This is not inspirational as it does not inspire people to follow willingly but only recoil out of fear.
As a leadership coach, I take a lot of pride in advising and supporting leaders who are interested in maximizing their potential. I often reference great leaders who exemplify the traits I recommend my client’s follow. It is a shame that our political leaders so often run counter to what I believe great leadership is all about.