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Archive: Followership
Divisive Issues
"Values" issues like torture are important, but they attract divisive grandstanding and receive an outsized portion of media attention, especially when compared to tough challenges like health care or the environment, where nuance and innovation are required.
By Patricia McGinnis | May 15, 2009; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
Unsolicited Advice
Having served in a variety of leadership roles in the U.S. Navy and in higher education, it's always been my policy after stepping down to offer advice to my successors privately and only when they ask for it.
By John R. Ryan | May 14, 2009; 01:48 PM ET | Comments (0)
Bush Gets It
President Bush understood the meaning of the inauguration ceremony -- a handing over to power -- and what that means for criticizing the next president. Apparently, Vice President Cheney did not.
By Joanne B. Ciulla | May 13, 2009; 11:48 AM ET | Comments (4)
One-Year Moratorium
Cheney is not the first ex-president or ex-vice president to be a vocal critic, but it might be wise for such ex-leaders to wait a year after leaving office before going public with their views.
By Slade Gorton | May 12, 2009; 04:27 PM ET | Comments (10)
Unwelcome Ghost
Dick Cheney's conduct should be a reminder to leaders who've stepped down from office, whether in the public or private sector, that they owe their successor the decency of support, and if not support, then silence.
By Alan M. Webber | May 12, 2009; 02:40 PM ET | Comments (14)
Still Relevant
Dick Cheney continues to speak on public matters, like his predecessors Al Gore or Jimmy Carter. When one's term ends, that person's brain does not dissolve and one's experiences do not suddenly become irrelevant.
By Mickey Edwards | May 12, 2009; 12:19 PM ET | Comments (5)
Motivated by Real Concern
Evaluating Cheney's behavior of giving his opinion hinges upon one critical question: Whether Cheney's opinion is right or wrong.
By Ken Adelman | May 12, 2009; 12:15 PM ET | Comments (5)
Old Soldiers Never Die
In retirement military figures never really escape the obligation for restraint in their public commentary.
By Gen. Monty Meigs (Ret.) | May 12, 2009; 12:08 PM ET | Comments (2)
The Long Goodbye
The "rules of comity" in both the public and private sector dictate that ex-leaders keep criticism to themselves, but certain exceptions apply, and a question of national security might be one of them.
By Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr. | May 12, 2009; 11:56 AM ET | Comments (9)
Attacks, Not Advice
To criticize your successor in public is to deny him the opportunity to do his job as he sees fit. It also comes across as sour grapes.
By Yash Gupta | May 12, 2009; 10:25 AM ET | Comments (13)
Laundering Nixon
Richard Nixon made the transition from pariah to statesman, but it took time, patience, and a healthy absence and abstinence from the fray to launder himself.
By Marty Linsky | May 12, 2009; 10:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Carter's Example
"Formers" can be very useful if they are trusted by both parties and are seen as men and women of good will, interested in the common good.
By Warren Bennis | May 12, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
Unspoken Rules
Former Vice President Cheney should learn from generations of military officers who understand that once you leave command, you serve as a silent advisor, only providing input when it's requested from the new leader.
By Lt. Col. Todd Henshaw (Ret.) | May 12, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (8)
Organizations Over Individuals
Former leaders should step aside gracefully, offering both advice and criticism on a private basis when requested by their successors.
By Kurt Schmoke | May 12, 2009; 07:13 AM ET | Comments (0)
Propriety Aside
The real issue is whether in expressing his disagreement with the Obama administration, Mr. Cheney also expresses respect for our democratic process, for the American people and the electoral decision they made.
By Bob Schoultz | May 12, 2009; 07:08 AM ET | Comments (2)
Self-Defeating
Cheney's insistence on reviewing memos he claims will prove that "enhanced interrogation techniques" like waterboarding saved thousands of American lives may not be wise for the country and even for his political purposes.
By Michael Maccoby | May 12, 2009; 07:02 AM ET | Comments (1)
Free Speech
That former leaders are entitled to free speech reflects positively on our national values; that Dick Cheney condemns respect for human rights reflects negatively on his.
By Prudence Bushnell | May 12, 2009; 06:58 AM ET | Comments (3)
Be Strategic, Not Personal
When former leaders let personal considerations overwhelm or substitute for the strategic is a demonstration of failed leadership. In most cases if you have something to say--say it thoughtfully, strategically, and privately.
By Andy Stern | May 12, 2009; 06:52 AM ET | Comments (0)
Leaving Well
When we leave, we leave. We close the door. Period.
By Frances Hesselbein | May 11, 2009; 04:11 PM ET | Comments (1)
Hardly Helpful
I find it hard to believe that any knowledgeable person, of any political persuasion, would approve of the way that former Vice President Cheney has conducted himself in recent months.
By Howard Gardner | May 11, 2009; 04:01 PM ET | Comments (1)
Get a New Life
My guess that, in most cases, when a former incumbent puts down a successor the main motivation is ego - not altruism. Former leaders should "get a new life" and try to help the world be a better place.
By Marshall Goldsmith | May 11, 2009; 01:02 PM ET | Comments (0)
Every Right to Criticism
Opposition views are at the heart of a functioning democracy, and past leaders like Cheney have every right to offer theirs.
By Pablo Eisenberg | May 11, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (2)
Tie Up Your Camel
Making deals with people you don't trust is a formula for disaster. If you can't avoid them, be wary and hedge your bets.
By Norm R. Augustine | February 24, 2009; 11:58 AM ET | Comments (0)
Don't Choose -- Create
Anyone with talent could choose either to refuse to cooperate in a huff or submit meekly. The key is using the opportunity to think creatively about engineering something better.
By Roger Martin | February 23, 2009; 01:16 PM ET | Comments (0)
Same Methods, Same Results
Continued polarization within Israeli politics will not succeed, and, as Einstein said, insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
By Gail S. Williams | February 23, 2009; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hard-Headed Negotiations
The aim should be to foster negotiation not only with political rivals, but also with Palestinians who in the final analysis will find a coalition in the Israeli government, complete with hard-headed negotiations, in their interest as well as the Israeli interest.
By Abraham Zaleznik | February 23, 2009; 11:05 AM ET | Comments (0)
What Dilemma? What Unity?
What is this "good soldier" nonsense? There is no inherent value in bipartisanship.
By Mickey Edwards | February 23, 2009; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (0)
Be Ready to Quit
Assuming that you have any choice in the matter, you should never accept a position unless you are clear in your own mind under what conditions you will resign that position. Otherwise, you are sacrificing your own judgment and are simply an automaton in someone else's enterprise.
By Howard Gardner | February 23, 2009; 10:50 AM ET | Comments (0)
Cooperation, Not Collaboration
Joining an administration with which one has fundamental disagreements requires both leadership and followership -- and integrity. Unfortunately, this type of cooperation was missing among Republicans during passage of the stimulus bill.
By Andy Stern | February 23, 2009; 10:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
Livni's Careful Calculus
When a new CEO is crowned at Japanese companies, rivals are either retired or sent to other companies. But politics is messier, and Livni must decide whether Netanyahu is sincere in his overtures.
By Michael Maccoby | February 23, 2009; 10:31 AM ET | Comments (0)
Serve the Greater Good
Netanyahu, with Livni's support, can unite Israel's disjointed factions and negotiate the "land for peace" deals that will give Israel its long-awaited acceptance in the Middle East.
By Bill George | February 23, 2009; 10:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
Guidance for Junior Officers
Junior military officers can find themselves frustrated by orders that pose an operational or ethical dilemma. Here are four steps to take when confronted with difficult-to-swallow directions.
By Gen. Monty Meigs (Ret.) | February 23, 2009; 10:17 AM ET | Comments (0)
An Urgent Goal
When the stakes are high -- as during the Civil War, today's recession or the situation in Israel and Palestine -- the need to unite far outweighs the need for any person to put forth his or her individual policy.
By Yash Gupta | February 23, 2009; 10:08 AM ET | Comments (0)
When "Good Soldier" Is Impossible
No way will Livni be able to salute to the Netanyahu strategy on the biggest challenge facing her country.
By Marty Linsky | February 23, 2009; 10:04 AM ET | Comments (0)
The High Road to Democracy
Democracy is about choosing to swallow one's pride for the team or continue to fight for a cause that one believes in.
By Marshall Goldsmith | February 23, 2009; 09:52 AM ET | Comments (0)
Following Mugabe
We -- the West, the UN, the African Union -- go along with Robert Mugabe because we can't get it together, we can't muster the political will to act in concert to do otherwise.
By Barbara Kellerman | January 31, 2009; 07:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hillary Leads -- and Follows -- As She Takes Over at State
Hillary Clinton's leadership skills -- and her skill as a follower -- were on display in her first day as Secretary of State.
By Barbara Kellerman | January 24, 2009; 07:15 AM ET | Comments (24)
