See It (#411)

Many facets of leadership can be taught. Having the instincts required to lead cannot

Dec 21, 2023

In 1964, when United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart was asked to describe his test for obscenity (i.e., pornography) he famously responded: "I know it when I see it”

I’ve been thinking about that comment often lately with respect to leadership. I’m wondering if many people don’t have a Stewart-like test for what good leadership looks like anymore because they have so rarely actually seen it, if they’ve seen it at all.

As I mentioned in a post on LinkedIn last week, I have been baffled that so many people are surprised by the criticism of campus leaders at schools like the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Columbia and Harvard. Many students and professors have complained about “outside influences” dictating decisions at these schools, rather than seeing the problem clearly visible within.

I don’t understand their confusion or complaints. Any business leader who struggles in a crisis, upholds double standards, behaves disingenuously, acts with moral confusion, fosters an unsafe environment, neglects accountability, harms the brand and causes a major loss of revenue will face heavy criticism, and quite likely termination. It shouldn’t be too much to ask for the same level of scrutiny to be placed on campus leaders who are charged with running global institutions and creating a healthy, effective learning environment for our future leaders.

Though many facets of leadership can be taught, one of the most crucial requirements of any leader is to have the right instincts to meet the moment. If your initial response to a challenging situation always needs to be amended, clarified or walked back, that’s a sure sign you’re not in the right role.

Here's an example of strong leadership instincts at work: six years ago, the Air Force Academy faced a crisis. Racial slurs were found on the dormitory message boards of five Black cadets at the school.

Immediately after the slurs were discovered, school superintendent Lieutenant General Jay Silveria held a meeting with all 5,500 cadets and the leadership of the school. His five-minute speech was a masterclass in authentic leadership.

Silveria left no room for interpretation on his perspective on the matter, saying: “Just in case you’re unclear about where I stand on this topic, if you can't treat someone from another race or different color skin with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.”

Silveria went on to discuss about the concept of “better ideas”, civil discourse and the power of diversity in the Air Force:

“It’s the power that we come from all walks of life, that we come from all parts of this country, that we come from all races, that we come from all backgrounds, gender, all make-up, all upbringings.”

Silveria’s speech exemplified some of the most important leadership characteristics, especially in a crisis. Great leaders meet challenging moments by setting clear moral boundaries while also being inspiring and uplifting. When you watch the video, notice these key elements.

Though Silveria had written notes, he didn’t rely upon them. Instead, he led with emotion and connected with his audience.
Silveria did not hide behind legalese, careful hedging, or moral ambiguity. There was no uncertainty on his stance on the abhorrent behavior that prompted his remarks. You may recognize this is the opposite of what we saw on Capitol Hill a few weeks ago.
He was very clear about boundaries and consequences, stating “If you want to find a red line with me, it will be in the area of respect and dignity,”
He tied the undesirable behavior back to the organization’s values. Rather than reverting to bylaws or technicalities, he made it clear that the behavior was completely out of step with what the organization stood for and could not be tolerated.
He emphasized the need for common humanity, affirming that what we have in common is always more important that our differences. Even in difficult moments, leaders strive to bring people together.

At the very end of his speech, Silveria encouraged everyone to turn on their phone camera to record and then repeated the phrase: “if you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect then get out.”

While Silveria retired in 2020, I think some board members of major universities ought to consider inquiring about his availability. He could teach these institutions—and leaders from any organization—quite a lot.

Quote of The Week

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Have a great weekend!

-Bob
www.robertglazer.com

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