Presidents And Psychopaths. The Importance Of Boldness

There are certain characteristics we consider necessary in our leaders. Charisma is certainly one, but there is a trait that strongly connects with leadership…and they have it in common with psychopaths. ‘Fearless Dominance.’ The ability to know that you, above all others, would be the best person to lead. As the upcoming election approaches let’s take a look at our fearless leaders. President Obama, despite his likability, title of “President I’d like to have a beer with” and quirky charm, also has a no-holds bar belief that he is the top dog, the head honcho, or whatever it is that we’d like to call it. This is perhaps one of the single most important traits leaders need to have. It is the same boldness that crosses over to leading psychopaths. How brash a psychopath must be to control another person’s decisions using only their wily ways. They have to know they can achieve that goal. So do leaders. Teddy Roosevelt happens to be my favorite President. The man was fearless on the battlefield, on the streets as a police officer and in the oval office. He was shot in the chest and refused treatment until he gave his scheduled speech. Good old Teddy was even said to have taken down a mountain lion by kicking away his hunting dogs to finish the creature off himself. That level of bad-assery doesn’t even exist anymore, but it made him a clear and undeniable leader to anyone present.

I will, for the sake of propriety, tie this back to social work. Social workers are prime advocates, willing to be at the forefront to do what’s right for the client. Timid social workers are not going to be able to make those changes. We need boldness in order to be good at our jobs, but our profession is in need of that same self-assured certainty of our own boldness. Be a bold social worker. That’s how you become a leader.