A Congress Devoid Of Leadership
By Thomas D. Segel
March 7, 2009
To even the casual observer, it is easy to see the United States Congress has a leadership void of vast proportions. It has become a body of elected officials where the unseeing are leading the blind and good decision-making or acceptance of responsibility is unknown. This is a very sick body of people who are really in need of some serious help.
Congress could improve itself by emulating the principles and traits established by the most respected organization in the country. Without exception, the men and women of the armed forces are America's most admired and respected body of people.
There are, scattered among the multitudes of their fellow citizens, about two million military retirees, plus a strong active duty force. Though the retired service personnel are now embarked on a wide spectrum of civilian pursuits the lessons they learned while wearing the uniforms of their country still, in the vast majority of situations, allow them to stand tall among their fellow Americans.
There is a very powerful reason why these men and women are admired, respected, and sought out to fill important roles in their communities. That reason is a mystic thing called Leadership.
Almost without exception, career enlisted personnel and officers are required to undergo a wide variety of leadership training courses. These are not just a single indoctrination classes, but ongoing training across many years of their careers.
Today, even the giants of industry recognize the value of leadership training as it has been developed within the armed forces. The business world has even taken the military leadership principles and traits, modified them to fit their various business models and train their supervisors and officers to apply them in the work place.
Well, Congress-people, how would you measure up if the military leadership principles were applied to you and your role in government?
First, you should know yourself and always seek self-improvement. Most Americans believe those in Congress have an inflated opinion of themselves and they only seek further self-aggrandizement.
Next, you should be technically and tactically proficient. The average person in Congress has so little proficiency that he or she must rely on the skills of career staff personnel to do everything from preparing bills to be filed to explaining the content of various pieces of legislation.
Of major importance is developing a sense of responsibility among your subordinates and even your peers. This happens no place in Washington D.C. or in the Halls of Congress. The rule is keep protecting yourself at all costs, and if necessary, throw the other guy under the bus.
Leaders must always make sound and timely decisions. Everyone knows there has seldom been a sound decision made by Congress and nothing has ever been timely on Capitol Hill.
It is very important to set the example. For as long as people have memories, every example set by Congress has been bad.
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