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FASXXX10.1177/1938640014565091Foot & Ankle SpecialistFoot & Ankle Specialist

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Feb 2015

Foot & Ankle Specialist

〈 Editorial 〉 Crisis of Leadership

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s it my imagination or is the confidence level in leadership at the lowest point since the Great Depression? Polls show that the President of the United States is hugely unpopular and the same can be said about members in both parties of Congress. Recent local and statewide elections were highly contested but what is the message the candidates were conveying? On the radio and TV, I mostly heard negative advertisements against the opposing candidates. We were inundated with all the faults of the candidates, from past experience, to bad business practices to personal faults. Despite strongly believing that all Americans should vote and not take that privilege for granted, I came away from the campaigns not wanting anyone elected because all I heard were the detriments of the potential leaders. How could the candidates be acceptable to lead if they had done all the bad things in the advertisements? In my home in the state of Illinois, renown for corrupt leadership, the gubernatorial race spent more money than any in American history. We heard how terrible both the candidates were to lead a state in crisis. Wouldn’t the money spent on these smear campaigns be better used to serve the communities in which the voters live? This is not unique to the United States and when I talk to colleagues around the world, I hear similar sentiments about their leaders. Combine the campaign negativity with around the clock media coverage of everything leaders do and add in a little internet and social media and that is a recipe for dissatisfaction. Leaders have little room for misstep or error. What was said or done a minute ago is now all over the Internet and social media in seconds. Not only do we have experienced journalists providing commentary but anyone with a smart phone can get online and say whatever they wish about our leaders. Is that a bad thing? Not really, as it keeps the leaders accountable, but no one is perfect and it seems that these imperfections are more newsworthy than they were in the past. This leadership crisis is not isolated to state and national politics but also in business and, more recently, medical societies. I recently received an e-mail that was started as an e-mail chain intended to discredit the leadership of a medical society. The e-mail was written to question multiple aspects of elected and hired leaders of the society. I have only seen one side of the story but what struck me was the anger of the e-mail and those who forwarded the e-mail. It was not unlike the political campaigns that I was witnessing during the fall months leading up to the November elections. Leading is difficult and not for everyone. Most leaders have sacrificed something, whether it be time or the pursuit of something else and usually choose leadership positions because they want to help others. People rely on leaders to make decisions that benefit the greater good. Picking leaders may be equally difficult. DOI: 10.1177/1938640014565091. For reprints and permissions queries, please visit SAGE’s Web site at http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav. Copyright © 2014 The Author(s)



. . . leadership crisis is not

isolated to state and national politics but also in business and, more recently, medical societies.”

vol. 8 / no. 1

Foot & Ankle Specialist

History is riddled with examples of poor leaders. However, it is up to society to decipher who are truly the great leaders. I find myself today fortunate to be in multiple leadership positions. I participate in the running of our medical practice. I’m involved in leadership of several businesses. I’m co-editor of Foot and Ankle Specialist. Frequently, I question whether I am leading effectively. I try and look to people I know personally and what has separated them as leaders and do my best to emulate those qualities. I am fortunate to have friendships with several people who are incredibly successful business leaders, but the one leader who has impressed me most is neither in business nor elected official but instead the head of the school that my children attend. This person came to our school one and a half years ago following on the footsteps of a predecessor who had allowed the school to falter in many ways. Families were leaving the school for other choices and teachers were universally unhappy. The new Head of School came in and brought excitement and vision. He created collaboration between the faculty and the administration. He engaged students, families, and teachers. He listened to people’s concerns and moved toward solving them. He created an atmosphere of enthusiasm and hope, not in words, but in actions. Although a cliché, he practiced what he preached. When it comes to leadership, that might be the most defining characteristic. Yes, we are in a time when there is increased scrutiny over our leaders. Most people get into leadership positions for the right reasons and wanting to benefit the groups that they serve. Not only push leaders to be the best that they can be, but also help them succeed. Furthermore, look for the great leaders that you encounter and encourage them to take their leadership to higher levels. While there may be a crisis of leadership, there are many great leaders who can rise and take us all to levels we never thought possible. Lowell Weil Jr, DPM, MBA Co-Editor

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Crisis of leadership.

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