Last week I spent a few days in the USA. Sunshine, Halloween decorations, excellent company and of course the debate overshadowing most other conversations Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton, who will be president elect in less than a week?
If leadership is about “the ability to create, inspire, drive and support change” this North American election campaign and experience does with razor sharp clarity demonstrate the added importance of at an early stage to consider, carefully what you ask for and therefor what you get.
Values, competence, responsibility, and style what drives and informs formal and informal leaders, why and how to lead, are equally important as the ability to be a successful leader. That is a difference that will make the difference. Are we attracted to the power in exploiting fear and exclusion or a firm belief in equality and inclusion? What impact will it have when as in the ongoing presidential campaign values promoted consciously or subconsciously in a constant media stream are racist, sexist and misogynist insults, degrading and disrespectful language? In the present situation data takes zero space. Intentionally or unintentionally there is a kind of joy, titillation and a constant focus on the most outrageous views, claims and comments. Suddenly we get a daily dose of racist, sexist, misogynist views, opinions and language. Demonstrating and supporting ingrained values, standpoints and beliefs I was either too naïve or hopeful to believe briefly that this was passing out of time. Or at least did not belong in a 2016 presidential election in a country that calls itself the leader of the free world.
In the latest issue of The Economist there is a very useful article “Election 2016 Hating Hillary “ http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21709053-americas-probable-next-president-deeply-reviled-why-hating-hillary demonstrating how and why Hillary Clinton by many who have worked with her is regarded as “hardworking, true to her word and very professional” and at the same time throughout her adult life has been hanged out as enemy number one. She was “too independent-minded to be a first lady”, “a strong woman, which was felt by some to be a threat” and” representing a cultural shift that much of America feared” . And she is now daring to push for being the first and Democratic Party president after eight years of the first black and Democratic Party president in the White House. The ugly face of racism, sexism and misogyny is showing its strength and power with consequence we don’t yet know.
If you, like me, believe in diversity, equality and competence as the strongest, most honourable, natural human driving force it might feel like a rather dark time. However it is at times like this we need to pick up the torch, join together and in everything we do, how we behave ad what we say demonstrate the strength, the joy and only constructive and safe way forward is in acting, promoting and engaging with diversity, equality and competence whatever is our position and place in the world.
Together we are stronger. Democracy is a lifelong and complex engagement.
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