October 10, 2024 •Eric Hinkle
While America is no longer a scrappy startup, I would argue that we still need entrepreneurial leaders based on Joel Peterson's book, Entrepreneurial Leadership. Peterson (Chairman of jetBlue) explains how entrepreneurial leaders...
✈︎ Earn Trust. The founding fathers were known for their personal integrity and willingness to put the nation's interests above their own.
✈︎ Create a Mission. They shared a common goal. The Declaration of Independence articulated their “Why” and guiding principles. The Constitution established our system of checks and balances.
✈︎ Build a Team. Despite their differences, they respected each other’s diverse perspectives to negotiate, compromise, and collaborate on important issues. Not only among themselves, but also with other countries to forge strategic alliances that provided the support we needed to win the Revolutionary War.
✈︎ Deliver Results. Without their strong leadership, America would not exist.
While different leadership styles emphasize other core competencies, our government still needs leaders whose actions are guided by these four fundamentals. We need leaders who act with integrity. Who inspire people on both sides of the aisle to work together toward common goals. And who can deliver results for all of us.
The President is a leader, not a policy maker.
While they do influence policy, the President cannot pass laws. Executive orders can be challenged in court. Congress must approve the federal budget. Military actions often need congressional authorization. Treaties require Senate approval. The President can appoint Cabinet members, federal judges, and ambassadors who can shape policy, but those still require Senate confirmation.
The President's primary job is to set a positive example and inspire people by building trust, communicating a clear vision, and charting the course to get there. They can only get stuff done through other people. Ideally, people with perspectives that may differ from their own. To be effective, they need to be a Multiplier.
Being the President of the United States is a much bigger and broader job than running a business. Businesses have a single goal: maximize shareholder value. The US President, however, not only has to lead the 3 million people on the federal payroll. They also serve as the de facto "Chief Influencer" for every man, woman, and child in today's social media world.
To be truly worthy of the office, our President should be a moral and ethical leader who treats everyone with dignity and respect. They should be honest and transparent in their actions and decisions, holding themselves accountable for their actions and their impact on others.
🤔 Would you want your son to follow Trump’s example of what it means to be a man?
🤔 Would you want your daughter to follow Harris’ example?
Does America need political parties?
Our founding fathers chose to form a Democratic Republic, not a true Democracy where laws and policies are made directly by the voting majority, because we, as "laypeople," do not have the same specialized knowledge or access to information as the professionals. That's why the first core competency of leadership is to Earn Trust. We have to trust that they are at least trying to do what's in everyone's best interest.
But…
Our founding fathers warned us about the peril of political parties. The Constitution makes no mention of political parties. They are not necessary. Alexander Hamilton called parties “the most fatal disease.” George Washington warned that political factions would lead to a “frightful despotism.”
I had to look up the word, “despotism”. 🤷♂️ It means, “the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.” Synonyms include tyranny, dictatorship, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism.
Isn't that’s exactly why we broke free from Britain to create America in the first place? 👑
Despite their warning, our two-party system has endured because politicians were allowed to put structural barriers in place to favor their established parties. Campaign financing, ballot access laws, winner-take-all electoral system, and debate rules, for example, make it difficult for independents or other parties to compete effectively.
This is a unique time in American politics. Historically, two strong parties each represented about 40 percent of the electorate. Campaigns and parties would then work to persuade the 20 percent in the middle. But now...
At 42%, Independents are the largest US political “party”
Most Independents lean “Center Left” or “Center Right.” But at the end of the day, everyone is forced to vote left or right. “Center” is not on the ballot (neither is “Perfect”, by the way). We are virtually forced to vote for the Republican or Democrat who we believe is most electable.
Michael Adams, Kentucky’s secretary of state, said, "I’m not a moderate. I’m a conservative, but it’s tough if you’re not perceived as a far-right or far-left candidate or leader. If you’re not pure enough for your side, you get a lack of support or hate from your side. Then you get no love from the other side for being willing to break bread and to try to work out a compromise. You’re on a political island."
Our current two-party system causes honest and ethical people to vote for politicians who are, well, neither. Why? Because they default to the candidate who is associated with the brand of politics they most identify with. Both parties know this, so...
Billions of dollars are now spent on branding during each election cycle. Yes, branding. It’s all marketing.
Kamala Harris' campaign alone has raised more than $1 billion to promote the Democratic brand story of universal wellbeing (eg, healthcare, education, and income), embracing diversity, and progressive change. Those who have a negative opinion of the Democratic brand would never even consider her personal or professional credentials.
Donald Trump has won over followers because of his branding and marketing skills. His brand is now stronger than the traditional Republican brand (ie, limited government, economic conservatism, strong national defense). Those who have a negative opinion of his brand have trouble seeing any good in his past performance.
Without the two-party system…
🤔 Would Trump have succeeded as a politician?
🤔 Would Harris be the Democratic candidate?
Imagine if our political system allowed independents and other parties to compete effectively.
While that's not an option for President (yet), you CAN vote for down-ballot political leaders who…
🙋♂️ Demonstrate personal integrity and willingness to put the nation's interests above their own
🙋♂️ Are dedicated to the common good for everyone in the country
🙋♂️ Respect diverse perspectives… who want to negotiate, compromise, and collaborate to…
🙋♂️ Deliver results
Your votes for the House, the Senate, and your state officials may be more consequential than your vote for President.
We can vote for leaders on both sides of the aisle who demonstrate personal integrity, a willingness to put the nation's interests above their own, and who will reach across the aisle to negotiate, compromise, and collaborate on important issues to deliver results.
That’s their job. To deliver results.
All this other childish nonsense doesn’t do anyone any good.
Football games are rarely won with a single play. We need "entrepreneurial leaders" who will work together to move us closer to our shared common goals, even if it takes a few plays to get there.