“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
For as long as I have been a leader of others I have focused on teaching respect. In business this translates in many ways. When it comes to the competition, it means to show respect.
While not all competition is created equal, great competition should bring out the best in others and make them seek to further their cause in order to inspire all of those who follow.
A common behavior I see in business is for them to believe that speaking negatively about the competition is a way to improve their position.
While this may work in limited capacity within circles of like minded individuals who thrive on this behavior. The attempt to win hearts and minds through the disparaging of others is merely child’s play.
It is something that a respectable human being would never bring to the kitchen table, or the boardroom table. When approached by this type of behavior it immediately lowers my opinion of the entire organization who attempts to promote their value by lowering the bar of those they compete with.
When I speak to other successful business leaders they tend to share this belief as well.
Over the past few weeks I took time to watch both our nations political parties convene to discuss their ideas and plans while attempting to energize their supporters.
I heard some inspiring ideas which of course excited me. However while I did hear some ideas worth getting behind I heard far more below the belt rhetoric and negativity directed toward the competition.
It only leaves me to wonder why we allow our politicians to get away with this behavior. These are America’s leaders who should be setting the example for us and for our future generation.
When I watch both of our political parties attempt to build consensus on the back of belittling the ideas and beliefs of their counterparts it doesn’t make me feel aligned to what they are doing. It simply disheartens me and makes me wonder about the character of those whom we elect.
I love our freedom to choose but as people we need to demand more of our parties. Whatever side of the aisle.
We need to demand that they start bringing their ideas, plans, and strategies to the table to make our country more prosperous.
Then we must expect that they keep the childish, non-productive rhetoric that trivializes the beliefs of others to themselves.
It should be through the positive promotion of their thought leadership that drives behavior. Not through the manipulation of minds through negative sorting.
I believe most Americans are ready to be inspired. But not in the way our political parties do it today.
A message to America’s Leaders: Let’s stop the bullying and the banter and start working to truly move forward.
