[March 16, 2021] In a Politico magazine article last week, author John Harris had an interesting take on why so many leaders are jerks. I always wondered that myself. Leaders are supposed to be likable – at least those leaders in Western nations. The question we should be asking ourselves, according to Mr. Harris, is why so many people in the business of being likable actually so unlikable are?
The article holds up New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and civil rights leader Vernon Jordan as examples of one who is unlikable (Cuomo) and the other likable (Jordan). Mr. Harris writes of politicians who fall into this grouping of unlikable tarts, but his thinking applies to any leader.
“The unlikability of many politicians and people who labor for them is an enduring phenomenon. No need to pick on Cuomo, except that he’s spent decades asking for it and is in the news right now.”
A significant point is likable leaders devote considerable time to the behind-the-scenes cultivation of friendships that are not incidental to their success. Usually, this would entail developing relationships and maintaining the same with those that may be antagonistic to our ability to do their jobs.
“Here’s what should be obvious but evidently isn’t. Even if the effort is insincere, self-interest alone would dictate that most politicians and operatives try to emulate Jordan and at all hazards avoid coming off like Cuomo.”
Many leaders either don’t make an effort to be appealing or those why try, don’t succeed.
“What structural factors explain why politics produces so many assholes?”
Mr. Harris provides us with three possible reasons why so many leaders are jerks:
- Leaders attract ambitious, creative, and often needy people who feel under intense pressure and take out their frustrations on people when the spotlight is not on.
- The cult of bad-ass, trash-talking has come to our culture. This willingness to swagger and snarl with opponents (like journalists) is now seen as a sign of strength.
- Likability is a difficult, complex problem. If a leader decides that spending extra time developing friendships is not something they chose to do, then good for them, but they will pay the price.
I would add that many leaders seek popularity when they actually seek likability. Such a situation is more common than most of us would like to admit.
The benefits of mastering the art of developing the right friendships are eternal. Even in times of uncertainty, consistent evidence suggests that working on these relationships works.
The lesson is that a leader must pay attention to those around them and develop meaningful relationships even when it is not apparent there is a careerist reason to do so.
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Why So Many Politicians Are Such A–holes: Why So Many Politicians Are Such A–holes – POLITICO by John F. Harris. Altitude is a column by POLITICO founding editor John Harris, offering weekly perspective on politics in a moment of radical disruption.
Pow, hit this one out of the park…. I know lots of jerks (and dumbasses).
Who would have thought that so many leaders – who have been properly given rightful authority – would destroy that authority by simply being jerks. Some comment. I think they are a product of our times. Great work here Gen. Satterfield, keep giving us analyzes like this one.
“Bad ass” talk. I got a kick out of that one.
Ha, me too. But if we all remember, Gen. Satterfield wrote an article that noted that cussing and such talk was not conducive to good leadership.
Lesson 1: Develop your network of friends and good folks.
Lesson 2: Watch what you do and say, you will be misinterpreted.
Lesson 3: Spend time and resources developing those around you and be seen as a person who gives more than the receive.
More lessons, of course, but this is just a start. Learn from the pros.
What both Mr. Harris and Gen. Satterfield have both overlooked is the most obvious reason Gov Cuomo screwed up so much and lied about it. He is used to the media covering up his scandals. Cuomo is a Democrat and the party-journalists don’t want to expose ‘their guy.’
Pow, knocked that idea ball out of the park, Jonnie the Bart. I agree with you totally.
Good point, Jonnie, thanks. 😊
Thanks, Drew and Tom for the positive comments. I try. I also will not that this is a good time to read today’s article by Gen. Satterfield that reviews Dr. Joran B. Peterson’s new book. Go out and get the book. Read it now.
Another excellent article from Gen. Satterfield’s collection of his mind. Well done and thanks.
Yep, just another reason to continue reading this leadership blog. I really do appreciate the daily articles and the comments forum here as well. It gives me the chance to bounce ideas around. Others do as well.
Yes, likability is important – as Gen. Satterfield noted – but it is a very complex subject and why so many cannot pull it off. Start early in your career and learn to be ‘likable’ in every aspect of what you do. Be firm and fair, be truthful and adopt responsibility. These are what make you successful as a leader.
2. The cult of bad-ass, trash-talking has come to our culture. This willingness to swagger and snarl with opponents (like journalists) is now seen as a sign of strength.
Now, I thought about this a bit and wondered that this might just be the opposite. So many leaders are MORE prone to be easy-go-lucky than tough. Yes, courage is desired but I find most don’t know what courage is about and thus they seek bravado rather than strength.
Excellent point Max. This is why relevant experience is so crucial for a better leader than most people would admit. To be a senior leader means many years learning and developing, understanding the care for all one’s people (not just a few), knowing the theory of leadership and how to apply it. These are the underpinnings of real leadership that works not just in good times but in the bad times as well.
Ingenious. I read the article by John Harris in the Politico and you made a good summary of this insightful article. Thanks for pointing us toward it. I think Harris has some great points.
I’m always looking for a new perspective on things in general and this article is one of those that definitively makes me think. Also, it does give a new view and I like it for that reason. Note that what is here, is all about group psychology and thus has some merit.
Agreed. But I might add that Gen. Satterfield added a bit at the end when he noted that many leaders seek popularity when they actually seek likability. Knowing the difference is important, of course. Just like many leaders cannot distinguish between being tough and fair from being a jerk and stupid. Ha Ha, just my little opinion.
Excellent points here, gentlemen. Well said.
Go figure, my boss has been the worst of the worst. Great article on the “whys” that leaders are jerks. 👍
He He, we all have had bad bosses. But remember what Gen. Satterfield has told us, that we can learn a great deal on how to be a good leader from a bad leader. At least we learn what not to do.
Yep, lots of jerks out there. Our job is to set them straight.
I figure everyone of us has had a terrible boss in the past and learned what not to do as a result. Let’s not put those who help us down to much. Immaturity, cowardice, and narcissism are at the core of a jerk boss. Keep the faith.