|
Elections can teach us a lot about mentoring. I'm not
talking about the admittedly negative things.
For example, so often elections
emphasize ideology--conservative versus liberal, Left versus Right,
interventionist versus isolationist, etc., etc. The pundits argue and
candidates on all sides hurl too much negativity.
But there are a few positive things about elections, and
these teach us valuable lessons.
For example, in most U.S. presidential
elections most conservatives vote for the Republican candidate and the majority
of progressives vote for the Democratic nominee, while the rest of the citizens
decide the election based not so much on politics but on who they think will be
the best leader.
The "leadership thing" swayed the elections in 1980 (Reagan
over Carter), 1984 (Reagan over Dukakis), 1988 (Bush over ), 1992 (Clinton over Bush), 1996 (Clinton
over Dole), 2000 (Bush over Gore), 2004 (Bush over Kerry), 2008 (Obama over
McCain).
In each case, the electorate picked the person who seemed
the most like a leader. Again, most people on the Left and Right support their
party's candidate, but the overall electorate backs the individual it thinks is
most likely to be a good leader.
Likewise, good mentoring is more leadership than ideology.
Setting the example, focusing on "You, not Them," quality weekly and monthly
mentor meetings, "Inspire, not Require," effective Family Executive Councils,
"Structure Time, not Content," emphasize "Quality, not Conformity,"
In the book Multipliers,
Liz Wiseman teaches that great leaders do the following: 1) look for talent
everywhere, 2) find people's natural strengths, 3) utilize people at their
fullest, 4) remove blocks to success.
These are an excellent guide to picking
executives at all levels of government. Leaders who are good at doing these
four things are going to be good presidents, governors and mayors.
Too often we
elect on the basis of ideology rather than leadership.
Both are important.
When considering who to vote for, look at how
the person did these four things in past leadership roles.
| |
Also by Oliver DeMille
|
|
|
|
Is American education preparing the future leaders our nation needs or merely struggling to teach basic literacy and job skills?
|
Connect with Oliver & Get More Content
|
|
|
|
Connect & Engage with CSL
Click the image below to download our free e-book:
| |
Social Leader Daily by Oliver DeMille
