Have the fuss and factionalism that plagued this year’s legislative session gone away? No, they appear to fester.
Makes you wonder if those involved ever take the time to step away from advisors, lobbyists, colleagues, and other influencers to gain a balcony perspective of relevant issues and behaviors. For example, could such a reflective perspective give Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker Jason White enhanced insight? Pull them together? In Leadership Without Easy Answers, Ron Heifetz says yes, it would. That is about the only way authentic leaders can externalize conflict and see paths to resolution when dealing with difficult problems, he says.
Rather than the broad perspective Heifetz suggests, our leaders tend to lock themselves into narrow perspectives. Reframing Organizations by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal can help us understand. Their study of leaders found tendencies to view the world from one of four frames: factory, family, temple, or jungle. Factory folk tie solutions to structure and organization. Family folk tie solutions to human needs. Temple folk use inspiration. For jungle folk it’s all about power.
Most see our government’s decision-making as jungle stuff – power games. Now, power games are real and do have impact, as we saw during this recent legislative session. But lasting solutions seldom result from crushing the opposition or reluctant compromise.
Lasting solutions to tough problems, say Bolman and Deal, occur when all four frames come together. For example, budget restructuring that takes into account human needs and reconciles power is still not enough. People must be inspired and motivated so they will earnestly implement and sustain solutions. Such solutions, while often painful at the front end, lay a solid foundation for the future. (Think PERS funding.)
Hopefully, a day will come when voters tire of the power games in Jackson. That’s when factory, family, and temple forces can subsume jungle forces to find common ground. Would authentic leaders then emerge who can inspire and lead resolution? Think about that as potential candidates for governor continue to emerge. In which frame does their rhetoric and behavior lie? Do any bridge them all?
If no such leaders emerge, forget about the balconies at the State Capitol. Focus, instead, on the fact that it was built in 1903 on a site vexed with anger and shame – the old state penitentiary. A fitting place for transactional leaders to wrestle with each other rather than issues.
“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness” – James 3:18.
Crawford is the author of A Republican’s Lament: Mississippi Needs Good Government Conservatives.
6 comments:
"Such solutions, while often painful at the front end, lay a solid foundation for the future. "
And there's his answer....Mississippi leaders are NOT serious people....adolescents grown old, and nothing more. Immature and frightened of each other's shadows.
Not as long as Trey Lamar is involved.
@10:24 is correct, they are not serious at all. None of the current gov front runners look to inspire leadership as I see it so far. Very sad. Is Andy dropping any more albums this year? Shad grandstanding and looking the other way for his buddy Phil? Delbert is old. Meh.
Check out Shad’s facebook page, NGOs and DOH, somebody been in the woodpile again..
It’s funny that people really think politicians are real leaders. They are people doing a job that is very public. Stop thinking they are anything more than that.
It would be quaint if one of these jackoff columnists would cease using the term "leader" when describing these unserious men and women. Politics is simply extended high school but with greater stakes.
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