Governor Christie: Leadership Begins With A Look In The Mirror; Forbes, 1/9/14

John Baldoni, Forbes; Governor Christie: Leadership Begins With A Look In The Mirror: "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?... I cite Henry’s behavior frequently in my coaching with senior executives as a means of cautioning them to watch their words. Its theme resonates today in the unfolding drama of Governor Chris Christie and traffic jams near the Fort Lee entrance to the George Washington Bridge. At the moment it appears as if loyal aides conjured up the traffic jam as a means of getting back at the mayor of Fort Lee who was not a supporter of the governor in his re-election bid last fall. One of whom, Bridget Anne Kelly, his deputy, has been axed. But the bigger question arises: what kind of leader is Governor Christie to surround himself with the type of people who would play politics with traffic as a means of putting the screws to a political opponent?... Unfolding investigations will determine the governor’s culpability but the lesson of watching what you say and more importantly what you do as a leader remains a paramount lesson for anyone who is in power. People watch what you say, but they watch even more what you do... It is not enough for a leader to talk a good game; he has to play the game fairly, too. That starts with recruiting the right people. Nearly every executive with whom I have spoken about hiring, always puts character first. You don’t hire someone and hope to reform him or her. You hire a stellar individual and leverage their integrity for the aims of your organization."