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William J Rothwell
State College
The election of Donald Trump has highlighted a concerning shift in thinking about leadership. But it is essential that we frame this shift as a cautionary tale, not a model to be emulated. If Trump's behavior suggests any kind of new approach to leadership, it should serve as a lesson in what happens when traditional leadership values are forsaken for personal gain, divisiveness and dishonesty.
Trump's style of leadership is characterized by a callous disregard for the traditional norms that typically govern responsible leaders: integrity, respect, empathy and truth. Instead, he embraces tactics that many find alarming--name-calling, relentless lies, divisive rhetoric, racist and sexist tropes and, as alleged in numerous lawsuits and criminal cases, even criminal behavior. His willingness to disregard the truth and use his position to foster discord and mistrust among Americans is not revolutionary leadership; rather, it is singularly dangerous for the long-term future of our country.
Modern leadership studies often celebrate adaptability, resiliency, agility, transparency and ethical decision-making. Good leaders should unite people around common goals, build community and instill confidence through honest communication. Yet Trump's example offers an alternative that thrives on manipulation, fear and hostility, steering leadership into a darker, more self-centered arena. He has normalized behaviors that are troubling: being a "sore loser" by refusing to accept election results, attacking the character of opponents, using racist and sexist tropes, creating phantom issues and exaggerating problems to stoke fear. And his election regrettably shows that such tactics can work too well. It is frightening to consider that Trump's example could serve as a role model for others to follow in business, education, healthcare, religion and other spheres of human endeavor.
But this does not have to be the direction we follow. True modern leaders can draw lessons from Trump's rise without mimicking his approach. Instead, we should look for leaders who maintain a commitment to truth, who bring people together rather than drive them apart and who prioritize the well-being of those they serve above personal ambitions. The lesson here is that leadership based on deception, division and a relentless pursuit of power is a pathway to public disillusionment and fractured societies. It remains to be seen what will happen in Trump's next term. But if the past is prologue to the future, then we may all shudder at the prospects of the future.
Let Trump's tenure remind us that leadership is about responsibility, not just power. Society must demand more from leaders, rejecting those who use division as a tool and dishonesty as a strategy. The role of a leader should be to inspire and uplift, not to coerce and control. As we look to future leaders, let's choose those who embody the positive aspects of modern leadership--honesty, integrity and a sense of duty to all people--over those who reflect only its ugliest traits.