Defining Leaders

I was driving home today and, as usual, NPR radio voices filled the car.

The story playing during my drive was centered on leadership lessons taught at West Point Naval Academy.  A male senior cadet was describing a serious mistake he had made during the week-long survival training required for all West Point students before graduation.

It was the last day of survival training and he was cleaning his gun (which, for the exercise, contained only blank rounds).  An overlooked round had remained in the chamber and went off--a serious no-no in a training situation designed to prepare soldiers to move undetected through potential enemy territory.

The discussion turned to the lengthy lecture this cadet received from his superior officers, and the lessons of leadership contained within.

The NPR reporter began listing those traits that mark an effective leader.  

As the list rolled on, I realized that the list of traits being described in a military setting was precisely the same list of traits that mark an effective teacher.


Because yes, teachers are leaders.  
Effective teachers  know how to lead as well as guide.

But....

what about effective leaders?

Perhaps, just perhaps...

the most effective leaders...

teach.

Effective leaders should know how to teach and guide.

Leaders such as the President of the United States.

I propose this for your thinking enjoyment:

Could it be that the most effective Presidents--leaders--the United States has had have also been teachers?

I'm not going to start listing names here, because that opens up an inevitable battle of opinion that I tend to shy away from.


Perhaps the mark of a great potential President is in his/her skills as an educator.

As we approach yet another Presidential election,  maybe one of the questions we should ask ourselves about the candidates is this:  What would this candidate teach me?  Teach us as a country?

If you wouldn't want a candidate as a teacher, chances are you won't want him/her as the leader of your country either.  

A pretty good litmus test if you ask me.

If you don't think you could stand being in a classroom for 8 hours with a candidate, what makes you think four years of this person as the leader of your country would be any better?

Food for thought my friends.