Looking in the Mirror (#001)
“The World has loved, hated and envied the U.S. Now, for the first time, we pity it.”
— Fintan O’Toole
Episode 1 of The Leadership Works Podcast shares a fact-based review of the leadership practices of the President of the United States. Fintan O’Toole, a celebrated Irish journalist, writes of the world’s view of America during the Trump administration. As Finton writes, words matter and the truth matters. America has been loved, hated and envied. Now Fenton writes, America is to be pitied.
This episode begins with remarks given by Martin Baron, the editor of the Washington Post, at the Harvard Class of 2020 virtual graduation. Bacon makes the point that facts matter for leaders. To be trusted, leaders need to demonstrate trustworthy behavior. Trustworthy behavior begins with telling the truth.
Dr. John Bedker shares with the listeners the need and benefits of reflection for leaders. Leaders benefit by “looking in the mirror,” seeing, hearing and learning from the voices of those that witness the leader in action. The erosion of trust as a result of a leader’s departure from facts and truth has a consequence. Leaders need to reflect on the voice they share and the true voices they hear from others. Facts and truth are determinative for leaders.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know here. SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES.
Selected Links from the Episode & Sources
Powell, Alvin. “Washington Post’s Baron sends off the class of 2020, saying that facts, truth matter.” Harvard Staff Writer, Harvard Gazette, 28 May 2020, Martin Baron Commencement Speech for the online graduation program for the Harvard Class of 2020.
A retrospective on Trump’s electoral victory