33. People are more likely to accept the leadership of those who have shown they can
# d7 ~$ O+ ]& [! F) Jperform the same tasks they require of others. My reasons for this view involve the / i1 `5 ^9 ~3 U4 N8 I3 Y! H! Z1 B# N
notions of respect and trust./ ~+ |/ V5 R5 V& h7 G/ x
It is difficult for people to fully respect a leader who cannot, or will not, do what
6 R9 y6 R7 p1 E! n1 Xhe or she asks of others. President Clinton's difficulty in his role as Commander-in-3 T% ^2 o4 U! ]$ a3 b8 \( r/ m* P
Chief serves as a fitting and very public example. When Clinton assumed this " _: C) H y1 f" u6 T! p" d7 ?
leadership position, it was well known that he had evaded military service during the - d) V# m8 D6 e, } N# X) ]
Vietnam conflict. Military leaders and lower-level personnel alike made it clear that
: ~7 o; ]- v$ E$ |# I" `& @1 Pthey did not respect his leadership as a result. Contrast the Clinton case with that of a - M( ]- h! K8 V3 a' L
business leader such as John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, who by way of his
9 e( m2 ]' n, I5 ttraining and experience as a computer engineer earned the respect of his employees.
" _$ c$ L& Q) Y: j5 U It is likewise difficult to trust leaders who do not have experience in the areas
7 s7 a1 A ^. w) S. x5 g+ Cunder their leadership. The Clinton example illustrates this point as well. Because 3 N3 l1 Q. Y; \8 x1 V& l5 W c
President Clinton Sacked military experience, people in the armed forces found it 9 o4 T ~+ b/ g% M; K
difficult to trust that his policies would reflect any understanding of their interests or
! L1 }$ ?8 e. D2 c- tneeds. And when put to the test, he undermined their trust to an even greater extent with + W# Z9 ?, l/ K" `- a2 P
his naive and largely bungled attempt to solve the problem of gays in the military. In + B5 V) B* @/ ^" V0 G, o8 t4 W
stark contrast, President Dwight Eisenhower inspired nearly devotional trust as well as \3 s4 U% I' B w' y8 j
respect because of his role as a military hero in World War II.( G3 j3 b z. y
In conclusion, it will always be difficult for people to accept leaders who lack + q: k1 Q+ I- H0 C! J- |
demonstrated ability in the areas under their leadership. Initially, such leaders will be ( `2 P" F: n5 X+ K( U" p4 i! c% o
regarded as outsiders, and treated accordingly. Moreover, some may never achieve the
6 Q/ \8 A- n; F$ P9 i. H' N7 Uinsider status that inspires respect and trust from those they hope to lead. |