A Winter Term lecture series with journalist and former presidential adviser David Gergen continued Monday, Jan. 12, as he discussed the skills effective leaders must develop in dealing with others. Details…
Gergen, Elon’s Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership during Winter Term, focused his second lecture on what he termed “the outer journey, what leaders need to do in their relationships with others.” He identified the three qualities leaders must cultivate on their outer journey as emotional intelligence, a record of accomplishment and the development of a moral compass.
Gergen defined emotional intelligence as “the capacity to understand and relate to followers.” He believes aspiring leaders must have a good understanding of themselves, which leads to a good understanding of other people. He encouraged Elon students to learn how to listen sympathetically to others and be empathetic to their problems.
“A CEO who mistreats his employees will be a crippled leader,” Gergen said, noting that American society is moving away from a culture where followers do what their leader asks without question. “You must develop your IQ and, very importantly, your EQ.”
Citing Mahatma Gandhi, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan as examples, Gergen said each connected in some way with their followers. “Reagan gave a voice to their aspirations. Gandhi wanted to understand his followers, so he bought a second class train ticket and rode around India for a year, listening to what they had to say. Roosevelt came to sympathize with others because of polio. FDR’s empathy earned him recognition as the best president of the 20th century,” Gergen said.
Developing leaders must also build a record of accomplishments in their chosen careers. While Gergen encouraged students to take time to enjoy youth, he said “most leaders have distinguished themselves when they’re young.” He said there was no substitute for hard work, as evidenced by the lives of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who were driven by a fierce determination to succeed.
He also believes it is not a coincidence that many leaders come from small towns. “It is here where many of these leaders learned the values of family, dependability and hard work.”
Building a record of accomplishments also includes learning how to follow, Gergen said. “It’s important to spend time when you’re young paying your dues,” Gergen said. “Learn how to follow, then you can lead.” Finding a mentor and assuming posts where there is responsibility for leading others is also crucial to building leadership skills. “There’s always someone older who is willing to extend a helping hand if you ask in the right way.”
Finally, Gergen said leaders should develop a moral compass, “something to guide you through the difficult questions you will face.” He said many people sail through life for long periods without adversity, but few people get a free pass entirely from tough times.
“The moral compass will help you deal with adversity, because adversity will come your way,” Gergen said. “It will serve you so well when you get lost, and you will get lost and you will make mistakes, because we all do.”