Reflections of a Boston Lawyer

Recent events have caused me to reflect on the nature of leadership.  The following reflections are incomplete and are not meant to be exhaustive. They are general principles, not "how-to's." I am sure there are many resources available I could have drawn upon, but these principles are based primarily on my personal experience and observations.  I may continue to revise these principles, and welcome the input and ideas of my readers. Good leadership  places the good of the group ahead of the good of the leader. It encourages the expression and consideration of diverse viewpoints. It draws upon the talents and wisdom of those led. It understands the position and needs of the group within its larger environment. It fosters the growth and well-being of the group's individual members and of those who rely upon it. It respects individual freedom while seeking the common good. Good leadership is thoughtful and strategic.  It is proactive, not reactive. It takes no offense

My parents taught me that we are supposed to treat all people with kindness, that we are to play fairly and by the rules, that we should be willing to subordinate our self-interest for the interests of family and country, and that we should not lie.  My teachers taught me that opinions should be based on evidence, that facts matter, and that science is important in understanding the universe we inhabit.  My professional training and experience taught me to behave ethically, to listen to the concerns and opinions of others, and to be willing to compromise to get things done.  My faith taught me that the strong have a responsibility to protect the weak, the rich to help provide for the poor, and the well to care for the sick. If there is a lesson to be gleaned from recent American politics, it is that everything I had learned was wrong; that if you want to succeed, it's okay to be rude, boorish, unfair, unprincipled, self-centered, dishonest, unscientific, secretive, unethical, unc