Americans want leaders who live by values such as civility, honesty, fairness and more. And it matters now more than ever.
In my new book Renewing Values in America, I describe how a lack of regard for values has contributed to the lack of civility in our society today and how it also contributed to our recent economic crisis. My book offers a useful perspective on values like civility, integrity, accountability and respect, among others.
Renewing Values in America is a practical, yet simple approach to define values, talk about them and teach them to others — including to children. In easy to understand language, it helps people understand that “how you are matters”, and how to use values to guide behavior. This book is especially relevant to people in leadership roles, teachers, parents, young adults, and business leaders.
Looking back to the Founding Fathers of America for guidance about the kind of values needed to preserve our system of self government, Renewing Values in America objectively describes common sense values that are relevant today.
I am a partner in a corporate culture-shaping firm, and in my 35+ year career, which spans tumultuous times in American business, more than a third of it has been focused on embedding values in large corporations. My new book translates this experience into meaningful lessons with the intent of having a positive impact on our broader society.
While Americans are seeking leaders who live by values such as honesty, fairness, purposefulness and more, I suggest that each of us can and must do the same.
When I watched the State of the Union speech and the actions and commentary that followed it, it occurred to me that people are missing the deeper, more profound question that Americans should be asking. The question is, “do we understand what listening is and are we ready to do it?”.
If one watches the media pundits, or listens to the vocal political leaders, one could easily form the opinion that this is a country of extremes with little hope of reconciling. There are many loud voices talking about their positions, who is winning, who is on their heels, and so on. Each party has been criticized for not engaging with the other, and the president has been criticized for not putting a specific plan on the table with a threat to veto anything else.
What we don’t seem to be able to see or understand is silence. By definition, when one is listening, one’s voice should be quiet.
I believe that the American people are, for the most part, listening. And for the most part, this means their voices are quiet. Perhaps this is what we used to call “the silent majority”.
When one truly listens, one must be willing to be influenced. You don’t have to agree or even take the action, but you genuinely have to be willing to be influenced and sometimes your actions do need to demonstrate it.
I also believe this president is listening. To my way of thinking, the fact that he did not define a specific plan and threaten a veto, actually demonstrates through action that he is listening and willing to be influenced by what people say. For healthcare, he defined broad principles and said that he is willing to listen to ideas about how to get there. Neither party seems to follow his lead about listening. He says he is willing to meet with Congress, yet he gets criticized for doing so as if it is “beneath the presidency”.
I believe the American people are willing to listen and be influenced, and want a solution that incorporates good ideas regardless of their party affiliation. Are Congress and the media ready to do the same?
Not long ago, I received a question from a person who read my book “Renewing Values in America”, asking why I used President Obama as an example in the book and why I did not pick another public figure, and this person suggested a particular senator.
It is a good question and the answer is worth explaining.
My experience has taught me that the most senior leader sets the standard and the tone for leadership and values. Barack Obama, as President, is currently the most senior leader of our country and he sets the tone. While others clearly also have an impact, which should not be ignored, my point of view and the premise of my book is that it starts at the top.
I referred to the first three presidents in my book – George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson - as setting the standard and tone for values when the United States of American began as an independent country. I wrote my book shortly after President Obama took office, and the conclusion in my analysis was that he was intentionally setting a clear standard and tone with respect to values.
My purpose is to shine a light on values, to focus people on them, and generate more support for values-based leadership. What I find is that many people have a hard time separating the way people conduct themselves from the positions that people take. One of the reasons I wrote the book and do this blog is to help people see that there is such a distinction and it is possible to respect someone’s values and conduct regardless of whether you agree with their position.
At this time of Thanksgiving I am reminded of an event that occurred several years ago which contributed to my being able to live life with more gratitude. In the greater scheme of things it was a small, routine event, but it had a striking impact.
My husband and I were watching TV (PBS, I think). They were rerunning a performance by George Burns, an iconic entertainer whose life spanned most of the twentieth century. At the age of 98, Burns was on stage singing a song titled: “I Like Life, I’d Like to do it Again.”
For some reason the impact of this man singing this song was deeper and more profound than I ever would have imagined. Here was a man near the end of his life saying “I’d like to do it all over again”. He wasn’t saying I like the good times, he was saying I like life.
At that moment it touched me in a way that caused me to ask the question of myself “Why do I have to wait until I’m 98 to have that feeling?” I was about half of his age at the time and every day I get to “do life again”. So why not approach it with that kind of gratitude for life every day?
I decided to think about that song each day when I wake up. After several years, I can look back and say that more often than not, I do think of the song and I live that day in a state of gratitude regardless of what comes my way. Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs and I’ve had my share of both. It makes for an incredible ride. And, I get to do it again today.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for being here.
Kind regards,
Nitsa
PS. Could not find George Burns singing “I Like Life, I’d Like to do it Again”, but I found this other song in which he tells us to enjoy life everyday because todays are the “good/bad old days”
Here is George Burns singing Good Old Bad Old Days
I want to do a follow up on the same topic but this time focus more on the positive side and acknowledge some who are setting a better example and upholding the value of integrity. But first a little background.
Countrywide Financial, now owned by Bank of America, was a large subprime lender and at the core of the mortgage meltdown. Angelo Mozilo, the former Countrywide CEO, has been charged with fraud and insider trading by the SEC. He, apparently, had a lot of “friends” – referred to as “friends of Angelo” – to whom he may have provided below-market loan mortgages. An investigation into the “friends of Angelo” program has shown that some of those mortgages may have gone to influential politicians (see CBS News article).
Representative Darrell Issa of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked for a vote to subpoena documents from “friends of Angelo”, but initially the chairman of the committee resisted the formal hearing. This lead to the “lock-out” that I mentioned in my previous post.
As the Wall Street Journal mentioned, “a compromise plan floated around to authorize the subpoena covering – don’t laugh – all federal officials EXCEPT members of Congress”. Ok, you can laugh now. But, finally the committee members reached an agreement for the subpoena. (see the Politico article)
Kuddos and praise go to representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Paul Hodes (D-NH) for pursuing this investigation and applying the same rules to all Americans, including Congress. That is what integrity is about.
I give these three Congressional Representatives my highest rating - “refreshing” – for doing the right thing.
