Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
46. When those around you are losing theirs
Tue May 26, 2020, 08:22 PM
May 2020

It's a long poem, but buried in there is the thought that in the end, leadership is about keeping your head in a crisis. People will actually be drawn to the person that in a crisis, stays calm and takes on the sense of responsibility for handling the crisis, freeing those around them to feel free to act without concern of being held responsible. You don't have to be the smartest, or know all the answers. You don't even have to know how to "fix" things. But if you'll just project the impression that "you've got this" people will support you and help you.

The converse is what we are seeing. In a crisis, the "leader" who starts seeking blame, looking to divert responsibility, and generally trying to figure out how to protect themselves from responsibility, will quickly find themselves standing alone with no one wanting to help. I've seen it more than once.

When I was leading a large team, something really bad happened and it wasn't clear at all that there was an answer. People were afraid of being fired. I called them all into a room and explained that, as team leader, regardless of what went wrong, if anyone was going to get fired, it was going to be me, so stop worrying. For one thing, I said, my bosses needed the people on my team in hopes of fixing this. Work the problem and let me handle the bosses. I came within days, nay, hours of being fired when one of the team members came in and showed proof that the problem was buried in a mistake by a subcontractor. One, that fortunately for me I had advised we not use. I told the team member that he had just saved my job. He looked proud as a peacock. But more importantly, the team had been working hard to find the cause, because they knew there would be a "reward" for finding it, not punishment for not finding it.

Trump could have gone on TV in early January and said what a risk we were facing and that we had to pull together as a country for the better part of a month, "to save us all" and our future. He would have sailed into a second term. But it meant he would have had to take direct responsibility for something that may, or may not, have worked.

Oh my god it's like he came down with Covid MaryMagdaline May 2020 #1
Good point that puts things in proper perspective. benfranklin1776 May 2020 #4
+1 MaryMagdaline May 2020 #5
If the report is true Trump writes yet ANOTHER Biden commercial.... Bengus81 May 2020 #16
REMEMBER WHAT SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS SAID trueblue2007 May 2020 #47
Correct and we can't let him divert people's attention benfranklin1776 May 2020 #58
unfair? SSDD onetexan May 2020 #2
He always requires validation of his delusions: Mike 03 May 2020 #3
It's literally all a narcissist hears! Mopar151 May 2020 #21
1. Trump thinks the world is so unfair to him. 2. Joe Scar needs to up his attacks on Trump TeamPooka May 2020 #6
+1 Mike 03 May 2020 #8
As the saying goes, if you want a friend in DC, get a dog . . . . hatrack May 2020 #50
When the universe doesn't cooperate with Entitled Privileged People, they whine. . . . .nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2020 #7
From Citizen Kane Clearly fogged in May 2020 #9
He was another monster who influenced the way Americans thought, too. Thanks for the reminder. Judi Lynn May 2020 #17
Not just the newspapers, OMGWTF May 2020 #23
"said a person who spoke with Trump last week"? maxsolomon May 2020 #10
His intellgence failed him. stillcool May 2020 #11
More like his parents failed him, right? vapor2 May 2020 #30
Nothing like it, or... reACTIONary May 2020 #41
I hate them like poison greenjar_01 May 2020 #12
And I hate to tell him, PatSeg May 2020 #13
Unfair to Trump but the nearly 100,000 dead wanted it or deserved it?? That fuck is 110% INSANE. Bengus81 May 2020 #14
BTW Trump,you weren't elected, you were"selected". Receiving 3M+ votes less doesn't mean you won. Bengus81 May 2020 #15
This could have been a huge opportunity for him ToxMarz May 2020 #18
+1000 MissMillie May 2020 #29
He's had them Nasruddin May 2020 #38
When those around you are losing theirs zipplewrath May 2020 #46
I hope his fantasy comes true and he really does become Covid-19's biggest victim world wide wally May 2020 #19
He's a goddamn toddler sakabatou May 2020 #20
You've been Treated Unfairly in ONE Way, Donnie: Jeorge IX May 2020 #22
Too funny Miigwech May 2020 #25
Well, it wasn't fair that he won in 2016 with 3 million fewer votes... Beartracks May 2020 #53
Too bad, take some responsibility, YOU shithead! Miigwech May 2020 #24
Fell to blubberin', again, il Douche? Mc Mike May 2020 #26
The Russian interference in the 2016 election was pretty unfair... olddad65 May 2020 #27
He acted just like the Pendejo that he is ... aggiesal May 2020 #28
Awww, poor widdle donnie: George II May 2020 #31
He'll REALLY be pissed....... MyOwnPeace May 2020 #43
So January 24th wasn't early enough? MRDAWG May 2020 #32
Sad! JDC May 2020 #33
Snowflake! ❄️ Drum May 2020 #34
His national intelligence officials (3 agenices) warned him in mid and late January... NotHardly May 2020 #35
Time to unpack my violin... catbyte May 2020 #36
I can still hear it!!!!! MyOwnPeace May 2020 #44
A lesson for America. warmfeet May 2020 #37
I wich he ends up with it we'd get some peace. Historic NY May 2020 #39
Lock the lunatic UP. Evolve Dammit May 2020 #40
"He only knows one strategy--which is attack." rocktivity May 2020 #42
Poor POUTS, the Snowflake-in-Chief Hassler May 2020 #45
Just wait til his next meeting with Vladdy Daddy Fritz Walter May 2020 #48
Can barely contain the urge to want to punch that shitbag in the fucking face Blue Owl May 2020 #49
He's gone Full Nixon. n/t WheelWalker May 2020 #51
Some "friends" are going to do an actual intervention? But only to tell him to lay off Scarborough? Hekate May 2020 #52
There is something seriously wrong with #45. Aussie105 May 2020 #54
Yeah damn it, get this man a break of at least 5 months, can't you see how fucked up he is? Brainfodder May 2020 #55
You reap what you sow, SFB SnowCritter May 2020 #56
Ladies and Gentlemen: the pResident of the United States MissMillie May 2020 #57
100,000+ dead Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2020 #59
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»"This Is So Unfair to Me"...»Reply #46