By Barb Kachelski, CAE
“Change requires leadership,” Rudy Giuliani said during the PSCU VIP reception at The Carnegie Library, Washington, D.C., during the Credit Union National Association's Governmental Affairs Conference in March.
Mayor of New York during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Giuliani shared principles of leadership and gave examples from his own life and from history. Here are the first four:
1. Know what you believe. People don't follow people who are confused. Giuliani used Ronald Reagan as an example of this principle. He cut taxes, turned the economy around, and reformed immigration. Giuliani said Reagan led successfully "because he knew what he believed in." Leaders who know what they believe in then know what they can compromise about.
2. Be an optimist. "Life throws problems at you," Giuliani said. "Your success depends upon you facing them." When Giuliani was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his initial reaction was like that of many--he felt sorrow and despair. However, Giuliani opted to change his attitude, viewing the diagnosis as a break! While his father died from the disease, Giuliani felt lucky that he could treat it, live and consider himself fortunate. Leaders take problems, absorb them, and then solve or minimize them, he said.
3. Have courage. Courageous people are not fearless, according to Giuliani. Rather, they overcome their fear. "Every time we grow, there is fear. Great people who do great things have all failed." Giuliani cited Winston Churchill as a leader who failed many times and was ridiculed. Failure will happen, he emphasized. "Don't be afraid of taking risks."
4. Prepare relentlessly. Giuliani used heroes of 9/11 as examples. "Firefighters practice," he said, noting they minimize danger with equipment and training. "What you see when fire is fought is the result of enormous preparation."
"Great leaders care about people," Giuliani emphasized. "It is more important to go to a funeral than a wedding. The bride and groom will have a good time anyway. When things go wrong, you have to be there."
Barb Kachelski, CAE, is CUES' SVP/chief operating officer.
