RichardBALDWIN.com | Defining Leadership 2/2

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My

LEADERSHIP

Style

What Do These Five
Individuals Have In Common?

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Capt James T.
Kirk

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Capt Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Gen Ulysses S.
Grant

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Gen Dwight D.
Eisenhower

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LtCol Richard W.
Baldwin

1. They ALL exhibit the traits of a RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP!

2. They have NO desire for RANK or TITLE or to MANAGE other people!

3. They VOLUNTEER TO SERVE and enjoy HELPING others to SUCCEED!

4. They DON'T ALLOW EGO to get in they way of what they need to do!

5. They do what’s RIGHT because it is the THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

6. They ENJOY what they do, and they GET THE JOB DONE!

RELUNCTANT LEADERSHIP = TRUE LEADERSHIP

Clip Play Time: 24 sec

Scene From: Star Trek Generations (1994)

* Clip Courtesy Of Paramount Pictures

PLAY VIDEOS

Clip Play Time: 36 sec

Scene From: Top Gun Maverick (2022)

* Clip Courtesy Of Paramount Pictures

William Shatner as

Captain James T. Kirk

If you are a fan of Star Trek or Top Gun Maverick, you will find two (2) examples of "FICTIONAL" characters who exhibit the trait of “reluctant leadership.” They lead by example!

The character James T. Kirk, portrayed by William Shatner in Star Trek, for example, wants to retain his rank as a Captain. He has no aspirations to have any fancy titles or to be a high-ranking officer such as an Admiral. He wants to remain as a Captain doing what he loves and making a difference. He leads by example simply by demonstrating love for his job.

Likewise, the character Pete Mitchell, portrayed by Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick is content at the rank of Captain in the Navy and has no aspirations of having any fancy titles or being a high-ranking officer such as an Admiral.

Tom Cruise as

Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

General

Ulysses S. Grant

18th President of the United States

I provided examples of two (2) “FICTIONAL” characters above who displayed characteristics of RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP and had no desire for titles or ranks. They simply enjoyed doing their job and doing the right thing. I would now like to reference two (2) “REAL-LIFE” individuals who also displayed these same characteristics of RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP and had no desire for titles or ranks. These two (2) individuals would eventually hold the highest office in the land, and serve as President of the United States.

I have a top five (5) list of my all-time favorite US Presidents, but that is a topic for another time. For the purpose of this editorial, I will reference only two (2) of my favorite Presidents as it relates to the topic of RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP.

General

Dwight D. Eisenhower

34th President of the United States

Both Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant) and Dwight David Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower) had little regard for titles or ranks. In fact, they both never really cared much even for their first names given to them at birth (Hyram and David). They were both serious, down-to-earth individuals who got the job done. They were NOT bloviators who just talked a big game. They were doers! They had no political aspirations or even expectations that they would have high ranks in the military. Both would be biproducts of national wars when leadership was needed most. Both were Graduates of West Point Military Academy. Both were Military Leaders in a time of war. Both were appointed as Generals of the U.S. Army. Both were Republicans. Both were elected to two (2) four-year terms as President of the United States. Both signed into law Civil Rights Legislation to protect the rights of Black Americans. Both were Reluctant Leaders and had no political aspirations to serve as President. And Reluctant Leadership wasn't the only thing they had in common. As I studied both of these men in more detail, I further discovered they had so many other traits in common as well. In fact, I created a comparison table below to show just how many things they had in common. Their main trait, however, was their example of RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP.

ATTRIBUTES & SIMILARITIES	ULYSSES S. GRANT	DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
BOTH BORN IN MIDWEST:	Ohio	Kansas
SAME EDUCATION:	West Point Military Graduate	West Point Military Graduate
IMPRESSION FROM PEERS:	Well-Liked	Well-Liked
WARTIME SERVICE:	Mexican–American War & U.S. Civil War	World War 1 & World War 2
BOTH WERE SMOKERS:	1000's of Cigars	5 Packs Cigarettes Per Day
HOBBIES/PASTIMES:	Superior Horseman	Outstanding Baseball/Football Player
FINAL MILITARY RANK	General US Army	General US Army
PARTY AFFILIATION:	Republican	Republican
US PRESIDENT:	18th	34th
TERM OF OFFICE:	2 Terms = 8 Years (1869 - 1877)	2 Terms = 8 Years (1953 - 1961)
CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORT ACTION 1:	Signed Civil Rights Act of 1870 Into Law	Signed Civil Rights Act of 1957 Into Law
CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORT ACTION 2:	Signed Civil Rights Act of 1875 Into Law	Signed Civil Rights Act of 1960 Into Law
CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORT ACTION 3:	15th Amendment To US Constitution	Executive Order 10730
BOTH HONORED ON US CURRENCY:	$50.00 Bill (Printed 1913-Present)	$1.00 Silver Dollar Coin (Minted 1971-1978)
BOTH NATURAL LEADERS:	Reluctant To Accept Accolades or Titles	Reluctant To Accept Accolades or Titles

GRANT – A RELUCTANT LEADER

Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) made it clear on several occasions that he did not want promotions or to be in politics. In fact, he had already resigned from military service once but was talked into reenlisting at the beginning of the Civil War. In December 1863, Illinois Congressman Elihu Washburne, who had secured Grant’s commission early in the war, introduced a bill to re-establish the rank of lieutenant general in the army – essentially the country’s supreme military commander. It was common knowledge in both political and military circles that the bill would easily pass, and that Grant would be promoted to the position.

Those who had served closely with Grant, however, knew just how uneasily he considered this prospect, which most men in his position would have eagerly reached for as a crowning honor. Lieutenant Colonel John Rawlins (Grant’s Chief of Staff) wrote that Grant would not welcome any promotion or position that took him out of the field. Rear Admiral David Porter expressed a similar sentiment in a January 1864 letter to Secretary of Navy Gustavus Fox. He stated that Grant “doesn’t like anything but fighting and smoking and hates politics the way the devil does holy water — he doesn’t even want to be Lieutenant General until the war is over.”

A few days after the bill was introduced, Grant wrote that he didn’t deserve “anything more in the shape of honors or promotion.” Defeating the enemy is what he wanted more than anything. With respect to serving as President, Grant wrote “nothing likely to happen would pain me so much as to see my name used in connection with a political office.”

Grant also never relied on his rank or uniform to command the respect of others. He earned respect through his leadership, and his willingness to walk among his soldiers, talk with them, and listen. Grant never assumed military airs and talked casually with his men, as if he were a peer. “He sat on the ground and talked with the boys with less reserve than many a little puppy of a lieutenant,” wrote an Illinois soldier. Everyone notices Grant’s strangely nonchalant demeanor in a war zone. One day he strolled about in full view of Confederate marksmen as enemy bullets raised the dust around him. A newspaper reporter who did not recognize him shouted; “Stoop down, down, damn you!” Grant did not flinch. At Appomattox Courthouse, where Lee surrendered to Grant, Lee was wearing a shiny new uniform with accompanying sword and polished boots while Grant famously showed up in well-worn uniform, tattered gloves and muddy boots. For Grant, it wasn’t the uniform that made the general. His leadership was based entirely on his character, values and formidable skills.

U.S. FIFTY DOLLAR BILL ($50.00)

Grant passed away on July 23, 1885, at the age of 63. In 1913, twenty-eight (28) years following his passing, Grant's image was commissioned to be printed on the face of the U.S. Fifty Dollar Bill ($50.00) where it continues to remain in print today.

EISENHOWER – A RELUCTANT LEADER

Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969), like Grant, also made it clear on several occasions that he was never preoccupied with attaining promotions or to be in politics. In fact, he believed he was cursed for not serving in France during World War I and he expected to retire as a colonel. But other senior officers and government officials found that he could be counted on to carry out his military responsibilities just like Grant in his day.

Eisenhower, like Grant, also had the ability to subjugate his own ego seeing himself as a normal soldier. He once said, “Always take your job seriously, but never yourself.”

As a career military officer, he had also carefully avoided all political activity. After his retirement from active service, he wrote in his diary on January 1, 1950, “I do not want a political career; I do not want to be publicly associated with any political party.”

In 1952, unbeknownst to Eisenhower, a small group of his supporters placed Eisenhower’s name on the New Hampshire Presidential Ballot (without his knowledge) to “smoke out” the general as a way to encourage him to run for President. Following the results of the New Hampshire Primary, Eisenhower later discovered that he had won by a landslide. This overwhelming support convinced him to reluctantly throw his hat into the ring and go all the way. He took up the call to serve and the rest is history.

U.S. SILVER DOLLAR COIN ($1.00)

Eisenhower passed away on March 28, 1969, at the age of 78. In 1971, two (2) years following his passing, Eisenhower’s image was commissioned to be minted on the face of the U.S. Silver Dollar Coin ($1.00) between 1971 and 1978. During those seven (7) years, a total of 686,195,621 were produced by the U.S. Mint for circulation.

BALDWIN – A RELUCTANT LEADER

Like all the examples of individuals demonstrating traits of RELUCTANT LEADERSHIP noted above, I also have no desire for fancy titles or ranks. I enjoy doing what I have chosen to do, and I always give my clients and employers 100% percent of my drive, devotion, and loyalty. I am a RELUCTANT LEADER, but I do LEAD. And I LEAD by example. I love my job and do it with no complaints!

MY OWN PERSONAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY

LEADERSHIP is another trait I inherited from my mother. To me, LEADERSHIP is not about giving orders or telling people what to do. And it is not about managing people or having a fancy title. None of those things ever appealed to me. LEADERSHIP is instead having the ability to inspire others to be the best they can be and setting the example for others to get there. LEADERSHIP is also a trait that many people say you are either born with or not. Although I didn’t know it at the time, I discovered that LEADERSHIP was always a part of me. It was in my genetics. My form of LEADERSHIP, however, was exercised "by example." That is to say that I unknowingly "led by example."

MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS

In high school, I was an active member of student council, and I was elected by my fellow classmates to serve as president of many academic clubs. But I never really sought those positions or that recognition. Many of my fellow classmates would simply volunteer me or encourage me to take on those positions because they knew I was good student and no one else wanted to assume those roles.

MY FIRST JOB

It was the same with my very first job. In high school, I took a job at a grocery store so I could make payments on a car that my mother financed for me. After finishing my shift one night, I clocked out and proceeded toward the front of the store to leave. A fellow co-worker had clocked out with me and proceeded toward the front with me. As we were leaving together, we both noticed a carton of eggs busted all over the floor. As we approached the spill, I shook my head and turned back around to head toward the back of the store. My co-worker asked, “Where are you going?” I responded, “I am going to get a bucket and a mop to clean this up.” My co-worker responded “Leave it here. The morning crew can clean it up. Besides you have already clocked out. Let’s go!” I told my co-worker that I would not feel right leaving a mess for the opening crew to clean-up in the morning no matter who was responsible for cleaning it up. The response from my co-worker “Whatever, I am going!” He then proceeded toward the front of the store and left. I went and got the bucket and mop and cleaned up the mess. I did not ask to be paid for it. I just did it because it was the right thing to do, and it was also an example of me leading by example. I recall many instances in my youth where I managed this same type of situations.

MY YEARS AS A YOUNG OFFICER

Later as a young adult serving in the United States Air Force Auxiliary, my commanding officer told me he was ready to promote me from the rank of Captain to the rank of Major. I asked him if it would be okay to postpone that promotion until I got more experience under my belt. He told me that I had already earned the qualifications and met the time requirements to garner the rank of Major in his opinion. I, however, wanted to remain a Captain because I was having more fun doing what I enjoyed. I also wanted to gain more experience before I took on more responsibility. And this is where another virtue came into focus for me noted earlier and that was PATIENCE. I don't like to rush things. Although he disagreed with my rationale, he allowed me to serve another year at the lower rank before I elected to accept my next promotion.

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A few years later, I was asked to assume a new role as Squadron Commander. Like before, I was reluctant to be appointed in this new role and expressed my reluctancy. I enjoyed serving behind the scenes and having more fun. My Commanding Officer told me that my reluctancy to assume the new role was precisely why he felt that I was the right man for the job. He said that he had many other eligible officers under him begging to assume the position, but he wanted me at the post. He said he had observed my work ethic and knew he could trust me to always do what was right. Thus, I was promoted and appointed to the leadership position. It was a challenging position, but it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I still serve today in an advisory capacity for the United States Air Force Auxiliary at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I will discuss more about my service to the USAF Total Force in another section of my website.

USAF-AUX CHALLENGE COIN (Virginia Wing)

This challenge coin was commissioned on behalf of LtCol Richard Baldwin recognizing his contributions as historical research and preservation officer for Virginia Wing. Only 300 were minted. The Mid-Atlantic Region of Civil Air Patrol representing seven (7) wings (Delaware Wing, Maryland Wing, National Capital Wing, North Carolina Wing, South Carolina Wing, Virginia Wing, and West Virginia Wing) also awarded Baldwin with the Colonel Lester E. Hopper "Officer of Year Award" for his contributions in history preservation and historical research in 2024.