JT on Teaching and Leadership

"A good teacher is not someone who stands up in the front of the class and gives out all the answers; a good teacher is someone who knows the challenges that their students are facing and helps them solve those challenges and get the answers."

It's what good teachers do.  It's also what true leaders do.  That, and lead by example.

He's definitely off to a good start.

Terri Chu: What Leadership Is

 

"Great things are accomplished by great people who share a common goal.  One thing for certain is I’m surrounded by great people." - Terri Chu

 

Far too many people think politics is about picking fights - getting folks mad at a candidate or party so that they'll react against.  But that's not leadership.

 

Leaders point the way forward and inspire others to move in the same direction. 

 

I just received an email from Terri Chu, the candidate I'm supporting for Ward 20 Councilor.  The quote above was the closing sentence.  There was no specific cause for it - she just wanted to express gratitude to her team and send a bit of positive energy our way as we head into the last act of the campaign.

 

Things like this matter.  Leadership matters.

 

This is the sort of thing Terri just does, because she believes it matters - that the people on her team and in her community matter. 

 

I've worked with some pretty amazing leaders in my time; Terri is one of my favourites.  I don't say this because I'm supporting her for Council; it works the other way around.  Terri Chu has my support because she's a leader I believe in.

 

That's why I'm proud to be part of her team and am looking forward to seeing her on Council. 

Terri Chu is the kind of leader Toronto deserves.

Leaders Set the Example

Politics is all about rhetoric.  You expect candidates to undermine each other's ideas, whatever they believe personally.  It's how the game is played.

Leadership, however, is all about setting the example.  Leaders inspire others with their words and deeds. 

Case in point:

1. Daryl CHRISTOFF ‏@DarylCHRISTOFF1 1h1 hour ago
2. I grew up on aFarm&when my grandfather was sick- it didn't matter the animals still needed to be feed #ward20 I bring the Foundation of 24/7

1. Terri Chu 4 Ward 20 ‏@TerriChu4TO 2h2 hours ago
2. .@terrichu gets why small businesses matter; started serving tables in family restaurant at 9 years old.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MiLX3GP4tk … #Ward20

The Horwath NDP Remind Us Why They Lost

"The people of this province, they made a decision to basically choose fear or to vote out of fear as opposed to choose positive change," she said.

I really want to be sure I understand this. 

Using language that sounds a lot like a disgruntled pollster, Horwath came out today to remind voters that she's sticking around as NDP Leader.  Given that it was a day we were learning about new cabinet positions (well, kinda, given yesterday's leaks), I don't think this was a burning reveal many people were yearning for.
 

As far as Ontarians (or those of who pay attention to politics at any rate) are concerned, the election is done - and we're glad for it.  After a tense minority and a painfully long campaign, we're now settling in for the next four years and trying to determine the tone and focus of government. 

For stakeholders, this time frame is about getting the lay of the land, figuring out issues of concern that could crop up and best ways to get your issues before government for action.

Christine Elliot's leadership bid announcement was well timed - "hey Ontario, here are the new Cabinet players you need to be paying attention to, and at the same time here's the Opposition Leader who'll be engaging them."  It's a smart move for her and a considerate one for her Party - leadership stuff.

By demonstrating a continued embrace of her inner Howard Hampton, Horwath is essentially telling stakeholders that she's going to be of precious little value to them in getting their issues dealt with.  If there were many stakeholders still paying attention to her, that is.  Truth be told, she doesn't have the influence she once did.

It's probably a good thing Horwath's presser didn't get much traction.

This is really sad - while I was confident we'd be seeing a new leader and a new tone for the PCs, I had hopes the NDP would return to its broker role with a focus on solutions.  If there were three women leaders willing to focus on solutions rather than blame - and they found some pivotal common-ground issues to collaborate on - I pictured a potential for culture-change within the Legislature that could finally support the same in the Public Service, then Unions and the Private Sector. 

Systems, not silos; shared solutions, not pick fights and wins.

So, to summarize:

- after having lost and being reminded how she lost, Horwath holds a presser to rub salt in the eye of her supporters and generally blame her results on Ontarians at large.  It largely comes across as a "but don't forget me" plea for attention to the media.

- it's a presser that happens when nobody cares, and provides the wrong kind of contrast; Liberals, winners; Christine Elliot, likely leader of the Opposition; then Horwath, trying to remind people she matters.  While implicitly stating she doesn't, because she couldn't inspire voters to reject fear or whatnot.

It's a strategy that, frankly, makes no sense.  In a way, though, it feels like a continuation of the NDP's plan of attack that's been in place since before they triggered the election.

 

Traditional political wisdom suggests you stick to your plan come rain or shine; like an athlete mid-race, it's doubt that can take you out of the competition.  Stick to your plan if you want to win; deviate at your peril.

Only the electoral race is over and actual Parliamentary business isn't supposed to be race

-like in nature.  And the plan the NDP are sticking to demonstrably a bad one.

It started when the NDP attacked Ontario News Watch for a story which essentially stated the 3rd Party would be triggering an election.  "Lies!" they brought out Gilles Bisson to say - only, they proved accurate.  Attacking a reporter when she's right, at the beginning of an election, ain't good planning.

It was the same sort of mentality that carried throughout the campaign, though, which is why they gained no traction.

Is this the role Horwath wants to carve out or herself for four years?  She's essentially branding herself as the Return of Hudak; obstinate, blameless and bitter.  If she thinks four years of obstructionism will work out for her in the long-run, Horwath might want to rethink that.

 

Hudak's Virtue: At Least He's Consistent

By Wednesday morning, he was speaking with theological certainty: "I stand by my numbers.  It's going to create the jobs that I say."  "I know I am right."

Of course he knows he's right - he feels right.  People who disagree with him make him feel frustrated, angry, agitated.

In the back of his brain, Hudak is certainly wondering why these people don't get it - but doesn't much care, because he feels like a steam-roller, like one of history's actors.

There's no surprise in this - Hudak has always displayed the same functional fixedness, the same animosity towards opposing viewpoints and the same urge to punish those who challenge him.

He's like Rob Ford this way - we know exactly how he'll govern, because he'll govern in the same way he's always operated.  Like a boss.

For this, he is to commended - he's being who he is rather than trying to present himself as something he's not.  Which means, if he's elected Premier and voters have buyer's remorse, they'll have no one to blame but themselves.

Caveat Emptor, folks - be careful what you wish for.