Some people should not go into politics.
I mean, most people should not go into politics, but most people know that about themselves, so they stay safely away from the scrum.
It’s the some people who don’t realize they shouldn’t go into politics but do so anyway — they’re the dangerous ones.
It can be as alluring and catnippy as stardom for some people. They see how politicians operate, read their dingbat quotes in the news, shake their heads and go, “Geez, even I’m smarter than THAT one!” They watch how politicians walk like awkward royalty through a crowd, shaking limp shakas and bending down to receive lei after lei from devoted admirers, and they think, “Man, I could do so much better!”
But being able to put together a cogent response to an interview question, being willing to warmly shake hands with strangers and make small talk at oddball community events does not equal being a good politician. Those aren’t even the basics of elected office. They’re just the basics of being a functional adult.
The truth is that politics is a profession. Like any other profession, it requires a fusion of natural aptitude, practiced skills, academic diligence, years of apprenticeship and a sense of purpose. Like any other profession, you have to be qualified. It’s not enough to have the right look, the right demographic backstory or have a really attractive headshot for your campaign literature. You have to know how to do politics well.
Winning the election is how you get the job. It’s not the job itself. Those who treat the job as a perpetual campaign miss the point of leadership. Leadership doesn’t mean to win. It means to serve.
A leader of people has to understand people. And like people. And care about people more than anything else.
Election years come around and people get all confused about leadership again. Even though they were made to sit through leadership
lectures in ninth grade. Even though they went to camp and got a badge. Even though they’ve endured hours of in-service training or career development memorizing acronyms, struggling with group presentations and fumbling through skits of what being a true leader means.
Election years come around and it all goes out the window.
We often place such value on people who are outsiders, who have no ties to the current administration, no previous government experience, no pedigree or track record, and no connection to anyone. Fresh eyes and new voices are great, but being an elected leader is a job for pros and it’s a job for people who know people or are quick at making new connections. Politicians have to cultivate a wide circle of professional colleagues, not just folks they went to high school with. They need to be people who are accomplished and reliable and industrious, people who know what they’re doing and people who can be trusted.
Don’t step up to be a leader if you have zero leadership skills and you know it. Even if it looks easy. Even if you give terrific speeches and have a cute headshot. Even if you hate your current job and figure it can’t be all that hard. It is. We just don’t see it done well too often.
There’s still time to pull papers for 2018. Don’t do it.
Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
