I’m always surprised when I hear prominent people (often business leaders) say they believe a key requisite for choosing political leaders is experience in business.
Today, effective business leaders in the public sector need to keep their eye on just one thing: their company’s stock price. After all, that’s how their performance as leaders is measured by the boards of directors which hire them. And often stock is a sizable portion of their compensation package.
The concerns of employees, suppliers, communities, customers and activists involved in the leader’s particular enterprise are often only secondary to stock performance.
Political leaders, on the other hand, need experience in balancing the concerns and needs of multiple interests within their jurisdictions – and come to compromises that, for the most part, are good for all. At least, that’s the ideal orientation.
President Coolidge once said the chief business of government is business. I’m not so sure about that. After all, that was a century ago – just before the Great Depression..
I would rather say instead: Governing is the practice of statesmanship. “Statesmanship” may be an old-fashioned term, but to me it boils down to tapping one’s experience, ability and wisdom to effectively manage public affairs (not private interests).
* What is your most amusing example of how people can live with contradiction?
I’m always surprised when I hear prominent people (often business leaders) say they believe a key requisite for choosing political leaders is experience in business.
Today, effective business leaders in the public sector need to keep their eye on just one thing: their company’s stock price. After all, that’s how their performance as leaders is measured by the boards of directors which hire them. And often stock is a sizable portion of their compensation package.
The concerns of employees, suppliers, communities, customers and activists involved in the leader’s particular enterprise are often only secondary to stock performance.
Political leaders, on the other hand, need experience in balancing the concerns and needs of multiple interests within their jurisdictions – and come to compromises that, for the most part, are good for all. At least, that’s the ideal orientation.
President Coolidge once said the chief business of government is business. I’m not so sure about that. After all, that was a century ago – just before the Great Depression..
I would rather say instead: Governing is the practice of statesmanship. “Statesmanship” may be an old-fashioned term, but to me it boils down to tapping one’s experience, ability and wisdom to effectively manage public affairs (not private interests).
* What is your most amusing example of how people can live with contradiction?