How About Positive Leadership and… a Positive Constituency as Well?
A good friend of mine gave me a jewel of a book called The Principles of Positive Leadership, by Mike Magee, MD. Thank you, Libby.
I read the book piecemeal throughout the course of the presidential campaigns, referring to it to help me gauge the principles of each of the primary candidates. Both fell short in many ways, but I’m writing this not to continue the party line or presidential debate but rather to remind us that we the constituency should also remain accountable, and practice positive, constructive principles as well. It’s time to break the polarizing behaviors in this country that are so pervasive today!
Like it or not we have a new president elect, and although we should continue to assess him, we should do our best to do it in a positive, constructive manner, no matter which side of the aisle you’re on.
Three Good principles
Be Nice! I’m sure, to many of you this might seem a bit too namby pamby but it holds water. The author shares a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The meaning of good and bad, better or worse, is simply helping or hurting,”
Be Constructive. “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one” Sam Rayburn, (past Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives).
And, Be Tolerant.
From where I sit, it’s time we all behave with more of the above three qualities, as the president elect matures into a new president.