Leadership in these turbulent times

I am on a quest to read 100 books in 2020. Beginning in January, I have been attempting to get through at least two books each week. My problem, however, is that I keep picking up lengthy biographies and epic works of non-fiction that take much more time to get through than the few hours of spare time I can carve out over a 14-day period.

One such book I read through in the month of February. Not knowing what lay before me in my own real-world experience, I read “Leadership in Turbulent Times” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Goodwin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian, takes the reader through the challenges and decision-making opportunities put before four of our nation’s most revered leaders during difficult periods of American history. The 2018 New York Times best-seller details the backstories of and the moments we remember from the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Each had their own crises and challenges to navigate – be it the seccession of southern states from the Union, labor strikes, the Great Depression or the Civil Rights movement. Goodwin’s historical volume reminds us that authentic leadership comes from ordinary people. None of these four seemed destined for greatness every step of the way. Each were flawed and battled their own hardships and personal demons. But each rose to the occasion and met the challenge head-on.

Today, we have our own turbulent times to manage. Today, we have our own opportunities for authentic leadership to be revealed. This is not unique to elected officials, but each of us are being given a chance to lead – be it our families at home, the business we manage or the community we serve.

If you are a leader today, and to someone you most certainly are, now is the time for you to step up.

It is still yet very early on in the story on the coronavirus pandemic sweeping our globe. Much will be made in the weeks, months and years ahead about how those put in our charge will respond to the ways we either chose to lead or did not when our crucible presented the opportunity. It is a heavy responsibility that must not be taken lightly.

As a journalist, the opportunities I see are rooted in communication. Nothing causes more unrest than the unknown. Without fact-based reporting and frequent communication rumors take hold.

Already, we are seeing the stark differences in response between those who chose early on to take this situation seriously and those who preferred to wish it away. We are seeing the second-guessing of those who earlier cried overreaction and we are seeing the positive results of those who chose to get out in front of the issue.

What we will continue to see are leaders who will be made or broken with each passing day. Those who communicate regularly, keep a calm demeanor and mitigate panic and fear with fact and reassurance will prevent the worst from happening here. And those who decry, “it won’t happen here,” or “it won’t come to us,” have only invited the grim reality into their home through their own arrogance and egotism.

We do not yet know, and may never know, who is or is not immune to the coronavirus sweeping through our communities today. But we know for certain that no one is immune to poor leadership.

If you are a leader today, and to someone you most certainly are, now is the time for you to step up. Now is the time for you to clearly communicate and to show your resolve. Yes, we will get through this one way or another, but your authentic leadership will help us reach that milestone sooner rather than later.

Brandon Cox is the publisher of several community newspapers in Western Kentucky, serving more than 200,000 Kentuckians in seven counties. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonJCox.