You can love and hate Donald Trump. Today, he is one of the leading figures of the free world and therefore attracts eyeballs and mind space of millions. To me, he comes across as a die-hard, action-oriented optimist, arrogant and brash. My focus here is to look at Donald Trump as a leader and a role model, sans political inclinations. The fact that he has large following and supporters can only mean that there is some quality that people get attracted to. Is that a criterion to call people great leaders? Good leaders leave behind a legacy to be cherished and recalled – not so good ones do not. Come 2020, come Donald Trump! Where he will be in the annuls of history, only time will tell!
The point I want to dive into is role modelling. “Leaders” is just a word. It means nothing unless personified by behaviours. The ability to assume a model role stems from habits of thought that determine behaviours of persons who others acknowledge as exemplary. The whole aspect of influencing people and communities is the essence of leadership. Oliver Goldsmith rightly said – “People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy”.
When I saw Donald Trump on television in the early days of the Corona outbreak, I remember a statement he made, and I quote,
“I just don’t want to be doing — somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful Resolute Desk, the great Resolute Desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens, I don’t know, somehow I don’t see it for myself. I just don’t. Maybe I’ll change my mind.” (Source: Economic Times).
This statement, as an example, reflects Donald Trump’s approach to the pandemic. His supporters believe in him, his words, and his actions. He becomes their role model. It is for this reason that you see several of his supporters and his campaign team workers not supporting any masks even in large gatherings.
Leader’s, therefore, have an onerous responsibility to portray behaviours that people look up to and follow to make things right. Self-awareness of the leader is key to achieve this realisation. The self-awareness dimension is a developed competency towards achieving clarity of purpose and therefore acting inside-out. Self-awareness is also about knowing that one is not perfect, and more importantly, accepting that fact and making peace with it. It enables one to consciously express core values and therefore help “walk the talk”. On the face of it, Donald Trump did walk his talk. He said, he did not want to wear a mask – and he demonstrates that. Even as he arrived back at the White House before full recovery, against all odds and criticism, he still disdainfully removed his mask. The question remains – is that the talk that people want to see the leader walk? Is that an example of a role model that people should get? For me, the answer is no because, taking wearing a mask as an analogy, is not only about the leader but about safeguarding the interests of others who interact with you. That precisely is what we term as SERVANT LEADERSHIP. I do not subscribe to narcissist traits of leaders though a I do believe that in small doses it can be a wonderful balance to help positive decision making. Wearing the mask, in today’s circumstances appeals to my idea of a role model leader.
In my progressive years in profession, I sought to look up to my supervisors and bosses as the first role models. On this one occasion, I recall how I was told to compromise a position in the interest of gaining higher fees from a client. It is a dilemma am sure we all have faced as we try and create our own identities. I was able to stand firm and survive but my boss ceases to be a role model. It creates disappointment and a sense of despair because your misguided to believe that in the interest of business and earning higher fees you must compromise your values. “Don’t be so straight and goody-goody – this is business!” I was told. I was forced to move on to seek another role model but many, due to sheer circumstances, will succumb! That is how important role modelling is! So, leaders – be aware that you are being constantly watched!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-friday-post-untold-stories-14-leaders-role-models-vikram-bapat
