The peaceful skies of Montana (Photo by Bruce Weinstein)
Whether or not you're planning to watch tonight's televised debate of the Republican U.S. Presidential candidates, one thing is for sure: much of the discussion afterwards will be about who "won" it.
But the parameters that various pundits use will vary widely. Here are some of the standards by which the candidates will be judged:
Dynamism: How forcefully did the candidates answer the questions?
Knowledge: How much does each candidate know about U.S. and foreign policy?
Charisma: How charming is each person?
Skill in Debating: Does the candidate in question know how to dominate the discussion?
Zingers: Who had the best one-liners that will make great sound bites?
What you're not likely to hear much about is a much more important qualification for being the next U.S. President: character.
As I explore in my latest book, The Good Ones, there are 10 crucial qualities associated with high-character employees:
1. Honesty
2. Accountability
3. Care
4. Courage
5. Fairness
6. Gratitude
7. Humility
8. Loyalty
9. Patience
10. Presence (i.e., mindfulness or focus)
If you do tune in to the debate, or as you learn about the candidates in the coming months, I propose that you use these standards for considering how worthwhile each candidate would be as the next U.S. President.
"But wait a minute," one might object. "Your book is about employees. The race for the White House is about the most powerful person in the free world. What does one have to do with the other?"
To which I respond: In a democracy, what is a President but the ultimate employee? After all, we hire or fire them based on their competence. I'm merely suggesting that character, as well as knowledge and skill, should be considered.
It's a radical suggestion, yes. But the alternative -- giving character short shrift in how we evaluate the people who work for us -- hasn't always worked so well in business or politics.
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