Well we’ve had a good run of it. For most of us, we’ve seen almost 8 weeks of business growth and positivity. Ignoring the two years of recession, I don’ think we can be too spiteful towards a tiny-handed, demented, nepo brat who seems intent on causing constant global instability. No sir. I think it’s great that he’s murdered a man who has no bearing on my life, but consequently throws the world into geopolitical turmoil. In fact, Trump’s actions (not just of late) have got me thinking about leadership. This in turn, might give me a blog. The rule of international law’s loss is my gain it would seem.
First we have the man. Trump resonates best with those who are the antithesis of himself. A spoilt rich kid who proceeded to lose (not grow) family wealth has huge support amongst the working classes. He slings out immigrants but is still loved by many who just about hang on in there. He “drains the swamp” but openly turns the Whitehouse lawn into a Tesla showroom for cash. What does this tell us about leadership? Firstly, it brings home some harsh truths. As much as we claim to want moral, wholesome leaders, who listen to us – as much as leading from the front and being a coach, not a manager is taught by leadership grifters on Instagram, when it comes to leading the masses – I’m not sure if I buy it. If I look at some of the most successful recruitment GMs I know, were they the most educated and erudite? Were they the voice of reason in stressful times? Were they master strategists? Actually no. These qualities are great in 2ic’s, team leaders, and GMs of smaller, niche firms. If you’re going to run (and grow) a big recruitment firm, and instil blind loyalty- you must create a cult of personality. Be as eccentric as you want. Scream. Shout. Shag. The important thing is that you possess that undeniable “X-factor”. This will work fantastically well. Until it doesn’t. And this is inevitable.
Trump’s recent actions also got me thinking on succession planning. Not his own (although I’m convinced he’ll try and manoeuvre that unfortunate oversized half-Hitler-half-vulture-looking son of his into President Regent), but more so his recent antics in Iran. Trump, in his wisdom, thinks that one 87 year old Muslim extremist is holding 90 million liberal, agnostic dope smokers hostage. One well placed missile will cause a popular uprising, and come July, Iran will experience their first “Summer of Love”. Think Haight-Ashbury, Woodstock, flowers down gun barrels, the rapid spread of STIs, and “burn the burqa”. A few things to consider here. Firstly, one 87 year old man does not decide the political and religious leanings of a nation. Sure there’s plenty of young, liberal, university students who will welcome his demise. There’s also probably a fair few who say things like “Yeah, Khamenei was a nice guy. But that was the problem. You can be too nice to these women who insist on accidently flashing an ankle”. Glancing at the list of successors, Iran clearly had some succession planning going on, and good succession planning might scupper Trump’s plan. The front runner, Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, now has a murdered mum and dad. I’m sure he’ll be the exact kind of US-friendly, easy come/easy go moderate that Trump was banking on. A country or business with no leadership plan B is adrift. A country or business with talent in the wings is pretty formidable.
Then I got thinking about the numbers. Financial literacy is important in leadership – or so I’ve been told. But Trump has shifted the paradigm on this. When I were a lad, a sure-fire way for a cabinet minister to go from the Rt Hon. Chancellor of the Exchequer to the MP for Rutland and Stamford was to not know your numbers. They memorised many, and clutched a bit of paper containing the rest. Trump instead, shoots from the hip. Trade tariffs either pulled from ChatGPT or made up on the spot. In fact, all figures made up on the spot. No one seems to care. Of course, countries can’t actually run like this. His rhetoric on these things is just that. What matters in leadership is either knowing the numbers, or…having a forgetful audience coupled with intelligent people who kick you under the table and then take care of anything that you’re too stupid to comprehend.
Then there’s recruitment. Trump, for all his faults, is a master at recruiting people who are right for that moment. Unlike most, he cares not for your past. He cares not your future. What he cares about is hiring those who can deliver a result or fix a problem that is right in front of him right now. Will any of these sycophantic lackies have a pleasant word to say about him in their autobiographies in 10 years’ time? Not a hope in hell. Trump cannot build a legacy team. But….he gives anyone (crooks, those who have openly hated him, former competitors) an opportunity if he can use their skills or fanbase right now today. If you have no morals, but claim to loathe the man, never tell me you’d never work for him. Because I don’t want to turn on the news and hear that Trump has hired a former Beyond recruiter to run healthcare in the US. If Trump were a recruitment consultant, he’d be the worst perm recruiter. But when it comes to building a temp or contractor desk, the orange-faced megalomaniac might actually find something he’s good at.
Enjoy your weekend.
^SW
