Gotta\u2019 love our leaders.<\/p>\n
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We choose men and women to lead us because of their ideas and intelligence, courage and creativity.\u00a0 However, sometimes all of the above veil integrity \u2014 or the lack of it.\u00a0 Yes, sometimes we perceive our leaders\u2019 actions or orations as so brilliant, we forget that actions and orations cannot substitute for what is deeper \u2014 for those motivations of the heart and soul that are often repackaged and massaged for the world to see in a more pleasing form, even if the ethical motivations don\u2019t truly exist.\u00a0 In other words, perceived integrity is often false; it isn\u2019t authentic.\u00a0 It\u2019s more a personal marketing scheme.<\/p>\n
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The challenge is that we aren\u2019t capable, consistent barometers of discerning those schemes.\u00a0 In fact, I often wonder if it is our emotions that cause us to assume integrity… because a leader makes us feel <\/i>a certain way when they speak \u2014 when they do something good \u2014 they must<\/i> be a good man… they must<\/i> be a good leader.\u00a0 And so we allow their ideas and intelligence and courage and creativity to cover up for what most needs to exist.<\/p>\n
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I had to laugh seeing such on the NBA floor last week.\u00a0 And truthfully, since the context was on the hardwood and not affecting so many people or policy, it was far easier to chuckle and almost applaud the creativity; the creativity was brilliant!<\/p>\n
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According to USA Today:<\/p>\n
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With eight seconds remaining and the Nets with no timeouts left, [Brooklyn Nets coach Jason] Kidd subbed in Mirza Teletovic for Tyshawn Taylor.\u00a0 As Taylor headed to the bench, he bumped into Kidd, spilling Kidd’s soda on the court.\u00a0 The liquid needed to be cleaned up, giving the Nets, who were trailing 97-94, time to huddle and draw up a three-point shot…<\/i><\/p>\n
According to amateur lip-readers, Kidd said, “Hit me,” to Taylor…<\/i><\/p>\n
“Sweaty palms,” Kidd explained after the game. “I was never good with the ball.”<\/i><\/p>\n
Taylor also tried to say it was an accident.\u00a0 “It might ice a free-throw shooter and be a timeout when you don’t have one.\u00a0 But that wasn’t the thought process,” Taylor said.<\/i><\/p>\n
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So Kidd can\u2019t lead his team within the rules, so he designs a masterful way to accomplish what he desires anyway \u2014 and then, lies about the incident.\u00a0 He\u2019s dishonest in all immediate, succeeding interviews.\u00a0 Even more remarkable, the player involved, Tyshawn Taylor, a loyal follower of this leader, also lied in all immediate, succeeding interviews.\u00a0 He even exasperated the lies, saying, \u201cCoach was in my way…’Coach, get outta my way, bro.’\u201d<\/p>\n
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Again, the leadership is brilliant!\u00a0 Way to be creative!\u00a0 Way to accomplish what you feel needs to be accomplished!\u00a0 Way to get your loyal followers to toe the party line!\u00a0 Ah, but the end result is more important than the integrity of the process.\u00a0 I wonder if that\u2019s wise.<\/p>\n
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I wonder where else that happens… when else that happens…\u00a0 when integrity is so brilliantly veiled by actions and orations… when those actions and orations cover all else up… when we are seduced into thinking that\u2019s wise leadership… when we applaud the creativity because of how we feel… when we are again inaccurate barometers of authenticity.<\/p>\n
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At least Jason Kidd\u2019s intentional deception was caught on camera.\u00a0 My sense is that such isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n
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Respectfully,<\/p>\n
AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gotta\u2019 love our leaders. We choose men and women to lead us because of their ideas and intelligence, courage and creativity.\u00a0 However, sometimes all of the above veil integrity \u2014 or the lack of it.\u00a0 Yes, sometimes we perceive our leaders\u2019 actions or orations as so brilliant, we forget that actions and orations cannot … <\/p>\n