The president, in my humble opinion, must be the first to reassure the people of America in hard times. This does not mean, oh, we are working on the issues. We are working to get them resolved. I have a policy to help us out. Great. That is what you are supposed to do. Also, it shouldn’t be about political bickering that one side is not helping America. I am reminded of FDR’s speech during the Great Depression. He didn’t blame other people for the mess, or that one political party or president wrecked the economy. What did he do. First, he addressed the people as a leader. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Then he stated, later when talking about what will be done, “Through this program of action we address ourselves to putting our own national house in order and making income balance outgo.” Key, everyone working to out the national house in order. I haven’t heard that at all.

Another leader comes to mind when people want the government or someone else to come save them. That person is JFK, when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” People need to participate and lead to better themselves and this country. We are all leaders if we are to believe as another great leader, Lincoln, said we are a “government of the people, by the people, for the people….” This could mean looking at whether we, as leaders in our household, should get into a mortgage we don’t understand and importantly can’t afford. As a leader of our community to work towards bettering it by taking part in the local government or civic activities.

Finally, I guess key to all of this is the sense of duty. Leadership starts with duty. The “leaders” of this country have said that they are working to get the economy working basically so we can get rich or have money to buy things. What happened to duty. Save the economy or just do your jobs because it is your duty. As Robert E. Lee said, “Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.”

Leadership is less about demeanor and more about managing expectations. I would replace Quiet Resolution with Managing Expectations.

This trait extends to all areas of leadership from handling individuals, and groups to handling the self.