Leadership Qualities of Ronald Reagan
By: Dale Weckbacher
Bailey (2004) in a speech delivered at Bowling Green University outlined eight points that make up an ideal leader.
1) Having a vision
2) Communicating strongly and optimistically
3) Focusing on a few priorities
4) Exhibiting the courage of your convictions
5) Relentlessly preparing for the challenge
6) Being willing to take risks and make decisions
7) Understanding that you are a steward of other people’s resources
8) Caring about what you are doing….that is demonstrating passion
(Bailey, 2004)
One of the most powerful leaders in recent history has been President Ronald Reagan. He was able to take a country mired in stagflation and a protracted Cold War, transform its economy, and set in place the processes that would end the long protracted Cold War. However, was Ronald Reagan an ideal leader according to Bailey’s (2004) criteria? In the next few paragraphs, we will measure Reagan’s accomplishments against these criteria.
Reagan’s Vision:
The situation for the country in 1980 was dreary. The nation was suffering from stagflation, a situation with high inflation and a stagnant economy. To make matters worse radical Islamic Terrorists took over the embassy in Tehran. There was an attempt to rescue the hostages but it failed (Tristam 2010).
In Candidate Reagan’s acceptance speech at the 1980 Republican Convention, Reagan outlined his vision. “More than anything else, I want my candidacy to unify our country; to renew the American spirit and sense of purpose. I want to carry our message to every American, regardless of party affiliation, who is a member of this community of shared values” (Reagan 2020, 2006). Reagan had a positive message for a nation tired of stagflation and showing weakness on the world stage.
In preparing Reagan for the 1980 presidential debates, Martel (2006) remembers Reagan telling him that a leader “must be clear with his followers about what he stood for”. Reagan’s positive vision coupled with his ability to clearly communicate it to the voters resulted in a landslide victory in the 1980 election (Leip, 2005).
Reagan became the Leader of the United States because of his vision and his ability to clearly communicate it to his followers. However, after becoming President, would he be able to continue communicating his vision with strength and optimism?
The strength and optimism of Ronald Reagan:
Perhaps the greatest measure of a leader’s effectiveness is the leaving of a legacy that outlasts their tenure as leader. In commentary on the ongoing legacy of Ronald Reagan, Hallow & Lambro (2004) cited that his two greatest accomplishments were cutting taxes and defeating the Soviet Union.
The tax cuts initiated by Reagan resulted in unprecedented economic growth and were the basis used by President George W. Bush to bring the nation out of the recession caused by the bursting of the dotcom bubble and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Even though the Soviet Union remained intact when Reagan left office, his policy of “peace through strength” and “trust but verify” laid the groundwork for the eventual fall of the Soviet Union. Once again the legacy of Reagan lives on as President George W. Bush adopted these same policies when facing a new enemy, radical Islamic Terrorism (Hallow & Lambro, 2004).
The legacy of Ronald Reagan’s policy and the fact the other leaders were able to successfully use similar policies when facing similar situations demonstrate the power and strength with which Reagan was able to communicate his vision even after he became leader.
Reagan’s simple but difficult plan of action:
Leaders often find themselves inheriting extremely desperate situations. These leaders often have trouble when they attempt to change too much too soon. In order to prevent himself from falling into that trap, President Reagan’s agenda upon taking office was a tenacious pursuit of a few strongly held convictions (i.e. cutting taxes, reducing regulations, restoring the national defense) (O’Toole, 2004) (Hallow & Lambro, 2004).
Even though Reagan’s agenda was simple, the initiation of the agenda would be difficult but throughout his tenure in office, Reagan remained the idealist (O’Toole, 2004). Just like Reagan’s optimistic vision was able to propel him into office, his tenacious optimism enabled him to follow-through on his promise and successfully implement his agenda, leaving a lasting legacy and pattern for future leaders to follow.
Reagan’s preparation for the challenge:
Martel (2006), worked as a debate advisor for Ronald Reagan during the 1980 campaign. In his book “Leadership Legacies”, he wrote of how he was impressed with Reagan’s belief that a leader “be clear with his followers about what he stood for”. Reagan had a strong set of core values, which had developed throughout his lifetime. In preparing for the debates, he wanted to make it clear that his responses clearly communicate these values to the voters.
Core values are something we acquire as we progress through our lives. Parents, teachers, and other people we encounter in our lives teach them to us. These core values prepare us to fulfill our calling in life. Reagan’s core values prepared him for the presidency and as long as he adhered to them, he found himself adequately prepared for whatever challenges he would face.
This is a valuable lesson for all leaders. We are prepared to lead according to the core values we have acquired in our lives but when we stray from these values, we will find ourselves unprepared for the consequences. David, King of Israel was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) but when David sinned with Bathsheba, there were consequences for which David was not prepared to handle (2 Samuel 12:1-12). David had strayed from his core values and found himself ill prepared for the consequences that would follow (Holy Bible, n.d.). Reagan refused to fall into the same trap as David and as such, remained prepared to handle any and all challenges he would face.
Reagan’s willingness to take risks and make decisions:
In order for a leader to lead the way, he or she must be willing to take risks and make decisions. Every leader is one major bad decision away from being let go but failure to do anything or make any decisions is also a sure way to be let go as a leader. All leaders must be aware of this delicate balance.
When Ronald Reagan assumed The Presidency, he did so with a few simple and strongly held ideas and pursued them tenaciously. For Reagan quitting was not an option and he persisted until he accomplished what he wanted (Johnson, 2004). The risk with this strategy is what if what you want to do makes things worse instead of better.
This is where preparation and a dedication to ones values are most important. Ronald Reagan had no doubt that his policies were just what the country needed to come out of its troubles. This lack of doubt in is policies came after years of experience seeing these policies work in other situations. For Reagan, adopting these policies was no risk for he knew they would work.
Reagan also had a deep love for his country and wanted to see it succeed. As President he knew he had the power to initiate policies that would move his country forward and had no fear in implementing his policies.
The ideal leader must have a deep love and commitment to his or her organization. They must also have a deep set of core values from which they will formulate policies for success in their organizations. The ideal leader is then able to fearlessly move forward with their policies knowing the risks involved but moving forward anyway because of a deep belief in their policies. Ronald Reagan was this type of leader and this was why he was able to accomplish great things for his country and the world.
Reagan’s awareness of whose country it is:
The United States has a representative republic form of government. In a representative republic, the citizens elect representatives who make the policies that run the country. In other words, the citizens are the main stakeholders in the country and hire, or elect, leaders to represent them (Republic, 2010).
Reagan was fully aware of this and is why he was committed to restoring the confidence of the nation that had elected him to office (Johnson, 2004). He understood the importance of explaining his policies to the public that had elected him in a manner they could understand. He also understood the importance of explaining to the public how his policies would benefit them and make their lives better.
Whether we are leading a country, an organization, or our families, the people we lead are looking to us to lead them. We are not just leading an inanimate organization but we are leading people. As leaders we have the responsibility to empower those we lead and to enrich their lives. This is an enormous responsibility, but the leader that is willing to take it on will be greatly rewarded by those they lead and the legacy they leave will be remembered long after they are gone.
Reagan’s Passion:
Reagan had a simple idealistic plan to restore the United States back to greatness (O’Toole, 2004) as do most people who become leaders in their organizations. What sets great leaders apart from ordinary leaders is a deep passion for their organizations. This great passion drives them forward through opposition to success.
When seeking an ideal leader for an organization it is expedient to find someone with a contagious passion. A charismatic leader with tremendous passion will be able to get and hold the attention of those they lead. Their followers will not be following out of duty but out of a love for their leader and what he or she stands for.
However, passion alone is not a determinate of a great leader but must be compared with the other qualities of great leadership. With Reagan, the nation got a complete, but not infallible package.
Conclusion:
Bailey (2004) has provided qualities with which to judge leadership. When these are applied to leaders, we can assess their effectiveness as a leader. Applying these concepts to Ronald Reagan revealed much about his qualities and taught us some valuable lessons.
First, effective leaders must develop a vision and strongly communicate it with optimism. Reagan was known as the great communicator. He won election as President by strongly communicating his vision of a strong and prosperous America. He won the nation’s affection, and re-election, by never wavering in is commitment to his vision.
Secondly, Reagan spent his entire life developing his deeply held values of individualism and national security. His deep conviction to these values prepared him for the challenges of being President. Reagan was willing to take the risk of implementing policies in line with his values because he knew in his heart that they were right.
Finally, Reagan was effective because he maintained focus on a few priorities and did not think he had to accomplish everything right now. Leaders must learn to prioritize their agenda. This way they will focus on what is most important and work down from there.
In future leadership postings I plan to apply Bailey’s qualities to other leaders. I invite you to respond to this post with ideas of leaders to investigate.
Resources:
Bailey, J. (2004). Taking Precedent From Presidents. Vital Speeches of the Day, 70(20),
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Hallow, R., & Lambro, D. (2004). Legacy: Tax Cuts and the End of the USSR. World &
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Holy Bible (n.d.). The new american standard bible, Updated Edition (2002), Anaheim California, Foundations Publications Inc.,
Johnson, P. (2004). A New Beginning. National Review, 56(12), 18-20. Retrieved from
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Leip, D. (2005). 1980 Presidential general election results. Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 1/4/2010. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1980.
Martel, M. (2006). On goodwill and great leadership. Directors & Boards, 30(3), 80.
Retrieved from Business Source Complete database.
O'Toole, J. (2004). The Realist-Idealist Dilemma. Fast Company, (86), 31-32. Retrieved
from Business Source Complete database.
Reagan 2020, (2006) Acceptance of Republican nomination for president at the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit Michigan. Reagan 2020, Retrieved 1/4/2010, http://reagan2020.us/speeches/nomination_acceotance_1980.asp.
Republic. (2010). In Encyclopedia Britannica (Online edition). Retrieved from http://www.search.ed.com.exproxy.apollolibrary.com/eb/article-9473188
Tristam, P. (2010). What was operation eagle claw, the failed rescue of American hostages in Iran? About.com Guide, Retrieved 1/4/2010, http://miccleeast.about.com/od/usmideastpolicy/f/me090413c.htm.
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