We are watching, with what should be growing alarm, a very reactive national leadership. Reacting to problems, criticism, or crisis leads to some very bad decisions. This kind of response is made in the heat when emotions get in the way and typically in an atmosphere of self absorption and selfishness. In other words the reactive leader only thinks the pain they experience and not about potential outcomes within the organization.
As I trained managers and leaders impressing them to allow some time before responding to a problem was often the most difficult. It is easy to allow ourselves the luxury of thinking we are the only ones aggrieved. Effective leaders must set such behavior aside. At the national level we see a leader acting impetuously creating an atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty. At the local level it is the same with the added problem tainting their own future as gossip and intrigue takes over the bus.
