26 Mar We all can’t play Andrew Cuomo or Anthony Fauci

A Facebook friend of mine forwarded to me a comment he got from one of his followers on social media. To give you a little background, this friend of mine is one of the dedicated journalists in Ethiopia. From my reading of the comment he forwarded, I presumed that the person who commented seemed unhappy that this journalist leader didn’t go beyond informing/telling people about the virus. In the comment, the person asked a couple of questions that touted him to go beyond talk and suggest some solutions and tips to office and business leaders.

Below is my response:

“… your friend asked a good question. I don’t have the full context but I’m assuming that he/she wrote this in response to what you are saying (advising others). Your friend might have felt that you’re just talking without action and offering some solutions.

You’re a media professional, most of your leadership responsibilities lay in informing/telling people by providing accurate and empowering information to increase their awareness. You’re not supposed to think and be creative for other leaders in other industries. They suppose to come up with some creative and innovative solutions and take actions depending on their respective field. You’re not expected, for instance, to go out and give some practical advice on healthcare. You cannot think and propose an innovative idea on how to design medical equipment and take action to bring it to market. That is insane and flawed THINKING!!!

Think about the Mayor of New York- Andrew Cuomo. He leads a state which is an epicenter of COVID19 in the US. He is viewed as a hero politician right now. Why? not because he goes out and acts the hero character in trying to treat sick people or come up with innovative solutions. His job is taking leadership in implementing federal and state legislations, soliciting resources from the federal government, creating a conducive atmosphere for medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, and businesses to fight and win this threat. And, he is doing a hell of a job as a political leader!

Just for comparison, Andrew’s leadership role is totally different than NIH’s Director of Infectious Diseases and Allergies- Anthony Fauci. The Mayor isn’t expected to advise New Yorkers medically as Fauci does. He isn’t expected to come up with any medical or business solutions and take action accordingly. There are many small and large businesses right now in the US working 24 hours per day to respond to this challenge and believe me, some will come out of this heroes/heroines and in the process billionaires and millionaires.

The point is that in our society, we don’t specialize. Everybody wants to be a hero or heroine everywhere and as a result, achieves nothing significant, and in turn, benefits our society nothing. Sorry to say that!

Let the media leaders do their job in increasing awareness. Let politicians come up with legislations and relief packages to support health workers and victims of this terrible disease. Let the priests and pastors pray and give sound (not reckless) spiritual counseling. Let the business community lose sleep to innovate and create some local inventions to step up and be solutions to their respective community. The argument continues…

This is my two cents. I hope this helps you give an adequate answer to your friend. Let me know if you may have any additional leadership-related questions 🙂 My job doesn’t require me to advise about everything 🙂 My ‘little’ responsibility is to inspire and encourage leaders like yourself and others in other fields to step up, be courageous to think unconventionally, to become creative to answer the DEMANDS of the HOUR.

This is your responsibility, not mine, to come up with your respective innovative solutions in your field and then take action. When you do just that and if you succeed to meet and exceed the expectations of your followers/clients/community, you take the credit plus the rewards!!!

I’m not an expert in medicine, media, politics, or any other field except leadership and management. And thus, not stupid and reckless to try to come up with solutions or take actions in other fields 🙂 lol”