The American political system has been plagued lately with gridlock and relationships seemingly in disrepair. At great risk of saying this, I believe the values that we cling to have become the very death of our national progress in terms of the most influential political factors in recent years. In this stalemate of political posturing, what American needs in Washington is a leader or leaders, that are willing to take risks that raise their agenda above self interests and self beliefs to a point where we can believe that they are making tough decisions in which they are willing to compromise a portion of political wishes, a sacrifice if you will, for the greater good.
If whittled down to a basic function, politics is about relationships. And out of those relationships we have to accomplish tasks – for the sake of our relationships so that they prosper and grow toward a greater good and a more mutual benefit. In any positive relationship there is discussion, agreements, disagreements and compromise. With this, there is no growth together. Though there is the likelihood of growing apart in the absence of these interactions.
It has been hard as a young interested citizen, hoping for a day brighter than yesterday was, as I look to Washington and our political landscape hoping for a leader to rise out of the sea of members. I can sense childhood hopefulness, wishing a hero would appear and lead us to a greater form of national salvation. This adopted image of a hero leader that we inherit as children never seems to leave us as we long for someone distinctively greater than the masses to break from the norm and show us a different way to new, exciting opportunities.
Yet we have not seen much from our leaders in Washington that bring us together, Democrats and Republicans, and allow us to instinctively lower the walls of our political positions and see a bigger picture beyond our own framed view hanging in our house of self interests.
It is in this thinking, that I have personally allowed a light of hope to glimmer. I have observed Washington politics enough to recognize something different from the norm when I see it. While this may be my own bias and view, I have seen a distinctively leader in the Governor of New Jersey, Chris Cristie. From a leadership perspective and with hopes to avoid a political push in my thoughts shared, I believe that there is a hope of hero like achievements that could come in 2016 and on, if Gov. Chris Cristie is elected the next president of the United States.
I only say this confidently because of what I have seen him do in New Jersey thus far as Governor. He has had to make many tough choices but he’s made them. He’s had to answer to the people for the many sacrifices he has had to ask them to be willing to make and he has held town hall meetings and spoken candidly with them. He has had to bring structure to a corrupt political system and he has held the state congress through the holidays until structure was agreed upon.
Governor Chris Cristie has been, for me, one of the most inspiring political leaders of my adult life. In review of the leadership qualities I have admired, he has exemplified a relationship-based approach. Some thing he may be rough on the edges with his blunt style and yet he has managed to become governor in a dominantly democratic state, while he is unapologetically running on republican values. Again, politics is about relationships and Cristie has overcome politics with his relationship style leadership.
To my surprise and admiration he has also managed to accomplish long enduring tasks that have been avoided and plaguing. As Governor he managed to cut the state budget by 11 billion dollars, reform property taxes that had risen by an average of 7% per year in recent years to a cap of 2% per year moving forward. In a time of economic crisis such as recent, he has shown he can overcome and achieve looming tasks that other states and our nation have seemed perplexed over.
Whether it’s relationship issues that Washington has not been able to overcome or tasks that they have not managed design, bringing structure and stability – they have embarrassed our national potential and caused many of us to ask where our leaders are in America. At this time of challenge, our nations needs relationship and task oriented leaders.
According to Peter Northouse, author of Leadership: Theory and Practice, the contingency theory states that different situations and circumstances call for different leaders (2013). Contingent upon the need, the style of leadership needed can be determined. If there was ever a need for conceptual leadership from someone where a vision can get conveyed and received (Katz 1955), Christie has displayed proven himself as Governor. Just catch up on the news by youtubing his media coverage regarding Hurricane Sandy that destroyed his childhood joy town.
A congress that has shown such a need for control needs a president willing and able to be a participative leader (House & Mitchell, 1974, p. 83). Discussions need to take place where consulting occurs and integrations of values must formulate amongst the constituents. Amazingly enough, Cristie has accomplished this in New Jersey, with a democratic group nonetheless and accomplished a turnaround economically in his state.
The achievement-oriented abilities of Cristie have immeasurable value (House & Mitchell 1974). The benefits to the senate and congress, who is at a sub-10% approval rating, would see a dramatic change in the public’s opinion if they can come to a more civil compromise for the sake of achieving and progressing in our national needs and interests. They have a ripe chance for turning our perception I believe by following a leader such as Cristie in our near future.
I want to believe in our national political structure and the members of our government that lead us but unfortunately I believe we are at a moment in time where a leader, an individual, might be the catalyst we need. It is a shame of sorts that we cannot find a collective group to bring the whole together but perhaps Cristie can be that melding factor.
The situation calls for his style and it has been proven, albeit as a single case study if you will, I believe the potential is ripe in Washington for him. We cannot ignore the fact that Washington must be willing and ready to follow. But there must first be an adequate leader with the aforementioned qualities for the times we are in to synchronize. When relationships are lacking we need a leader that can foster relationships. When nothing is getting achieved we need a leader that insists on getting results. Cristie has proven himself in New Jersey and I’m looking forward to what might be achieved if he is our next President elect.
Governor Cristie RGA campaign ad
References
Vries, K. D. (2011, January 13). N.J. local taxes jump 7 percent in past year | NJ.com. New Jersey Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather – NJ.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013, from http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/0
Northouse, P. (2013). Introduction. Leadership : theory and practice (6th ed). Los Angeles: Sage.
Katz, R.L. (1955). Skills of an effective administrator. Harvard Business Review, 33(1), 33-42
House, R.J., & Mitchell, R.R. (1974). Path-goal theory of leadership. Journal of Contemporary Business, 3, 81-97.