#001: Looking in the Mirror - A European view of the President of the United States

Episode 1- Fintan O’Toole shares a European view of President Donald Trump.

How the words of the President of the United States shape the world’s view of America.

Episode 1 of The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast shares a fact-based review of the leadership practices of the President of the United States.  Fintan O’Toole, a celebrated Irish journalist writes of the world’s view of America during the Trump administration.  As Finton writes, words matter, and the truth matters.  America has been loved, hated, and envied.  Now Fenton writes, America is to be pitied.  Episode 1 of The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast shares Fenton O’Toole’s article in its entirety.

Episode 1 begins with remarks given by Martin Baron, the editor of the Washington Post, at the Harvard Class of 2020 virtual graduation.  Bacon makes the point that facts matter for leaders.  To be trusted, leaders need to demonstrate trustworthy behavior.  Trustworthy behavior begins with telling the truth.

Dr. John Bedker shares with the listeners the need and benefits of reflection for leaders. Leaders
benefit by “looking in the mirror,” seeing, hearing, and learning from the voices of those that
witness the leader in action.  The erosion of trust as a result of a leader’s departure from facts and truth has a consequence.  Leaders need to reflect on the voice they share and the true voices they hear from others.  Facts and truth are determinative for leaders.

Sources:
O’Toole, Fintan. “The World has loved, hated, and envied the U.S. Now, for the first time, we
pity it.” Irish Times, 25 April 2020.

Powell, Alvin. “Washington Post’s Baron sends off the class of 2020, saying that facts and truth matter.” Harvard Staff Writer, Harvard Gazette, 28 May 2020, Martin Baron Commencement Speech for the online graduation program for the Harvard Class of 2020.