As we all prepare to select a new President next year (unless you maybe want to do it sooner!), I started thinking about what it is that make for a good leader, if not a great one.
Here are five traits or qualities that occur to me:
1. Knowledge and intelligence
Certainly this helps, but is it really that important? I’ve never heard anyone say Ronald Reagan was the sharpest tool in the shed, but he seemed to recognize his limits, surround himself with the right people, and then delegate to and rely on them.
2. Work Ethic
Like an absentee owner, an absentee leader won’t do. The owner has to watch the cash register. So does the leader. See Criteria 1 above. Again, isn’t the key the work ethic of the leader’s team? Most of our Presidents seem to find time to get their golf in. I sure could use some help with that!
3. Charisma
I have always felt this and the next one are far more important than the first two. Think FDR, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and Winston Churchill. I hate to even think it, let alone say it (so pretend I didn’t), but even if politically incorrect didn’t Hitler have a ton of charisma? Before he was at the top of his game, ask yourself how he managed to get there. For example, how do you think President Obama is doing in the wake of Paris? Is he a stabilizing, calming influence when we could use one? Does he make you feel we have it under control? How would you compare him to Reagan, JFK, FDR, or Churchill? Or perhaps to Tim Conway?
4. Trust
To me, charisma and trust are neck and neck for the number one leader criteria. Unfortunately, trust does not seem in abundance among our political leaders. We probably all can name more we don’t trust than those we do.
5. Other
Actually, I ran out at four. Any occur to you that I missed? What about crafty, shrewd, creative, relentless, single-minded, tough, flexible, confident, careful, soulful, in no particular order.
So, considering our last couple of Presidents, our current President, and our 2016 candidates, how would you rank them, especially the candidates who aspire to be our next leader?
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