We don’t need politicians—we need leaders

As we anticipate the 2016 elections, it’s incumbent upon us to focus on the most qualified candidates instead of those who raised the most money or provided the best sound bites.
 
We need leaders who understand that governing means uniting and building coalitions, not dividing and conquering. We don’t need more partisanship or divisiveness.  We need leaders with a broad set of work experiences and strong management skills—leaders who will use discretion and good judgment.  In other words, we need elected officials that do not represent the status quo.
 
{mosads}It’s no secret that we have lost faith in our elected officials, both Democrat and Republican. They have often failed to properly anticipate problems, and their responses have been slow, reactionary and filled with excuses. Instead of taking responsibility, they spin half-truths that they think the rest of us will actually believe.  Borrowing from The Who, let’s “not get fooled again”.  Our elected officials need to wake up and realize their constituents are fed up with their nonsense.
 
Voter disgust was evident in turnout for the November 2014 mid-term elections—just 36.4 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. The last time voter turnout was that low was in 1942, when only 33.9 percent of voters voted because we were busy fighting World War II.  All we’re doing now is fighting with each other.
 
Currently, government and the legal profession are overwhelmingly the fields where most of our elected officials come from (I hesitate to use the term “leaders”). It’s a narrow range of experience to be sure. Where are the entrepreneurs? The small business owners? The military leaders? Those from the corporate world with global business experience? They’re there, of course, but in relatively small numbers.
 
In many cases, presidential candidates have been career politicians—either members of Congress, governors or state representatives. While it’s critical experience to have, being an effective elected official requires more—it requires passion and an ability to consider views that you may not agree with.  Whether you hated or loved Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton, both had that “fire in the belly” and were committed to change for the right reasons.  They both worked well with others who didn’t share their points of view. They enjoyed engaging with opponents no matter how strongly they may have disagreed with their positions on domestic or international issues. They were more interested in partnerships than partisanship. They invigorated others, and knew the importance of compromise. Above all, they were leaders, not ideologues.  Unfortunately, too many of our elected officials today have fallen victim to special interest groups and become beholden to donors  at the expense of the voters who elected them.   
 
We need real leaders who can correctly anticipate and handle an increasing number of major world events or crises (sometimes simultaneously), as well as those who challenge, empower and hold accountable those serving under them. We need leaders who understand that ideology in and of itself is not a reason for a decision; leaders who understand we are living in a global world where diversity is as an asset, not a threat.  
 
Under the current leadership in all three branches, there has been a lot of blame going around, but very little accountability. Whether it’s the IRS targeting of specific groups, the launch of Healtcare.gov, or infighting about how to deal with ISIS, Vladimir Putin, or illegal immigration, very few of our leaders have stepped up to the plate.   If this was a business—small or large—there would certainly be a major reorganization in the works.  Perhaps it’s time for the same in Washington.
 
Is it surprising that we distrust most of our elected leaders?  We see many of them as lacking integrity, honesty, humility, accountability, or the ability to compromise—in other words, a lack of real leadership.   
 
The next time a new face runs for your state legislature, state house, Congress or The White House, instead of automatically voting along party lines or for the incumbent, act like the employer you are—base your decision on breadth and diversity of actual experience!
 
Eich, a retired navy captain and executive, is the author of Real Leaders Don’t Boss and Leadership Requires Extra Innings.