The Leaders Fallacy May Be Howard Deans Undoing

Howard Dean's tenure as chairman of the Democratic National Committee will be fleeting unless he avoids a common leadership trap I call it, the "Leader's Fallacy".

Leaders adhere to the Leader's Fallacy when they believe their enthusiasm for a particular leadership challenge is automatically reciprocated by the people they lead.

However, in leadership, automatic reciprocity is an illusion. Just because you as a leader are motivated, doesn't mean that the people are motivated too. Howard Dean is a case in point. Uttering the "Dean Screech" during the Democratic primary, he certainly was motivated. But that display of motivation turned off a lot of people and caused his candidacy to fizzle.

The Leader's Fallacy looms large as Dean leads the DNC. Sure, he's motivated to extend the Democrats reach into the grassroots of our nation's electorate and turn red states into blue. But his motivation isn't really the issue. It's a given. After all, if he's not motivated, he shouldn't be leading the DNC.

Here's the real issue, and I wonder if Dean and his lieutenants at the DNC understand it: Can he transfer his motivation to large segments of American voters, especially turned-off Democrats and even some Republicans, so they become as motivated as he is about Democratic values?

There's a simple, powerful antidote for the Leader's Fallacy. I've been teaching it to leaders of all ranks and functions worldwide. It's the Leadership Talk. Many leaders fall into the clutches of the Leader's Fallacy when they give speeches and presentations. Speeches and presentations simply communicate information. There's another, far more effective means of leadership communication. That's the Leadership Talk. Unlike speeches and presentations, the Leadership Talk helps the leader forge deep, human, emotional connections with audiences. Establishing such connections with grassroots voters is absolutely necessary for the Democrats' success.

To give a Leadership Talk, leaders must first answer "yes" to three simple questions: "Do you know what the audience needs?" "Can you transfer your deep believe to others so they believe as strongly as you do about the challenges you face?" And, "Can you have that audience take ardent action that gets results?" If a leader says "no" to any one of those questions, he/she can't give a Leadership Talk.

If Dean and the Democrats want to reverse the Republican tide and reach voters' hearts and minds in America's heartland, they must trash their speeches and presentations and start giving Leadership Talks. They must have the Leadership Talk be a cornerstone of the DNC communication strategy. They must get thousands of Democratic cause leaders out in the hinterland constantly giving Leadership Talks. Otherwise, they'll be victims of the Leader's Fallacy -- confused about how come they personally are so pumped up, so motivated on one hand and yet are failing so miserably on the other.

2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.com

The author of 23 books, Brent Filson's recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. ? and for more than 20 years has been helping leaders of top companies worldwide get audacious results. Sign up for his free leadership e-zine and get a free white paper: "49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results," at http://www.actionleadership.com

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


How To Hire Superstars

Can a person's behavior and values really determine if they... Read More

Status Quo Pep Talks That Can Threaten Your Leadership

Organizations live and die by results. Yet most organizations get... Read More

Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train

How do you get everyone on board the change train... Read More

Knowledge Management - Creating a Sustainable Yellow Pages System

How can I "know who knows" None of us can... Read More

Top 5 Services Your Company?s Accounting Department Should Outsource

Accounting is one area which every company has to maintain... Read More

The Leadership Alignment Model

Some time ago we had the privilege of working with... Read More

Solve Problems Permanently - Ask WHY

As Albert Einstein said:-"The significant problems we face today, cannot... Read More

Top Ten Tips About People Management

To get the best results you have to be very... Read More

Competion or Cooperation?

It has been said, there is no better way to... Read More

Knowledge Management - Keys to Successful Communities of Practice (Networks)

How can I make my community of practice truly effective?How... Read More

What Every HR Manager Should Know About Hiring Productive Employees

The characteristics of job applicants have a strong influence on... Read More

Choosing the Right Corporate Training

According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said... Read More

Change or Die! To Change Your Organization, Hire a Business Coach

It is a common business axiom ? change or die.... Read More

Employee Surveys: a Strategic Tool for Positive Change

Do you want to measure your workers' level of satisfaction?... Read More

Structure Your Payment Offers to Sell More Products

The way you structure your payment offers can increase your... Read More

Catch Your Staff Doing Something Right

A long time ago, I learned something about being a... Read More

5 Management Decision Making Lessons from a Long Shot. A Heartening Belmont Victory

Like many, I watched the 134th Belmont Stakes hoping to... Read More

Sending Documents Through Email? Dont Get Burned by Metadata!

During a recent seminar I gave located in the suburbs... Read More

Print Buying Consultant

Ten Money Saving Tips for Print ManagersDespite their stated desire... Read More

Are Your Meetings Smart?

Soon after I finished a brief seminar on how to... Read More

The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 4th C: Cumulative Money Problems

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More

Managers Who Spend PR $$ Wisely

If you are a department, division or subsidiary manager, your... Read More

Just The Facts

Attitudes are more important than facts. Dr. Karl Menninger... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to Enhance the Motivational Climate of the Workplace

It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job... Read More

Another Use for Meetings

Every meeting is a laboratory where you can observe and... Read More

Knowing versus Doing - Execution In The Workplace

Have you ever worked with someone who always seemed to... Read More

Action Learning: Its More Than OJT

For centuries companies have used on-the-job training (OJT). OJT works... Read More

A Renewed View of the Modern Business Culture

Life can sometimes be unexciting if not refreshed by the... Read More

How To Get What You Really Want

As a small business owner, entrepreneur or independent professional, it's... Read More

Process and Procedures Investments - How to Get Money Back

In September 2004, President Bush signed the $146 billion tax... Read More

Sharing the Reins: 10 Reasons To Sell Your Company To Your Employees

In 1987 I sold my business, South Mountain Company, to... Read More

Check Your Communication Skills

Use this check list to assess your communication skills.Focus* Do... Read More

Qualities of a Great Manager

In the call center environment we are often only as... Read More