Gov. Scott Walker is an example of an appalling failure to lead. Stubborn and inflexible, having set his mind to his goal of gutting public unions, he refused to budge, and used juvenile and mendacious tactical stunts to get his way. The result: he has divided his state in a deep and destructive way. This is a dramatic display of how NOT to lead - no matter what your political stripes are or at what level you are exercising your leadership.
Wellstone Action's work is all about helping new waves of progressive leaders-leaders who reflect our values--win elected office and start turning this country back around. Finding the right people as candidates, however, is not just about what values they hold. It is also about having the ability and the will to lead in a skillful, mature, and sophisticated way.
There are some universal qualities and skills of good leadership. Here are several to consider:
Self-Awareness - Know thyself is the first charge of all good leaders. Know your strengths and weaknesses, solicit feedback and coaching from others, always work on growth and development.
Empathy - Leading is all about moving a people from point A to point B, and to do that, you need to know people. Empathic leadership is about understanding the concerns and circumstances of others, and then leading accordingly.
Deep Listening - Related to empathy, you know other people by listening deeply. This is an acquired skill, but few do it well. It takes awareness and practice to listen well.
Accountable -- Accepts responsibility for actions, and communicates back and stays connected to the people they're leading.
Empowering - Include others in the work, and turns the spotlight off them and on to people. Is always talent scouting for emerging leadership, and actively builds their replacement.
It is important now for the progressive movement to work on a mass scale to find, train and support a new wave of candidates to run at all levels of public service. But as we do, let's make sure these are candidates with the leadership skills to unite and govern effectively toward the common good.
COMMENTS
Accountable
Accountability is a critical element of leadership. I was talking to my wife about a time that I was canvassing for a political candidate and he asked is "I plan to" a "yes."
To answer that question, yes, but the hesitation isn't in the support it's in the action of actually voting.
With that said, we desperately need leaders who ask direct questions, give direct answers, and follow through with what they say.
Kudos for accountability!
Sctt Walker
You say Gov. Walker acted like a juvenile? Was it mature for the democrats to run to another state and hide instead of staying, debating, and representing those who elected them? Why are the jobs saved by the cuts not mentioned in your article? 6,000+ jobs saved is amazing in any area of the nation! In my area the union shop of corrections officers (3 prisons and 1 jail were involved) agreed to a 17% pay cut in order to save the jobs of fellow corrections officers. There were no demonstrations with people screaming and calling names or destruction of grounds (as seen in the litter and ruining of landscaping in Madison).
Scott Walker
The unions already agreed to the cuts that he proposed, the real issue was his crusade against collective bargaining which by his own admission would not save the state a single dollar. What happened in your case was exactly what should have happened in Wisconsin but then the Governor went on the offense against the Unions by attacking collective bargaining and not focusing on fiscal responsibility. In the case of the democrats they did what they had to do, the Governor was not taking their calls and did not want to debate them regarding this issue. Also I was not present in the protest by I did not see any videos of them destroying any grounds.
This so good stuff keep up
This so good stuff keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog and I am happy to come again to see new post.
Web Design
POST NEW COMMENT