The story of our vice president touring the Mayo Clinic without a mask (in violation of Clinic rules) ignited doubt about his understanding of leadership. It was heartening to read that Mr. Pence re-evaluated this decision. Two days later, he toured the General Motors /Ventec ventilator production facility with his face and nose covered.
I don’t know his reason/s for the shift and hope it was not simply political expediency – a knee-jerk reaction to public outrage. I hope that embedded in the decision was a desire to lead.
Effective leaders strive to connect with those they serve by making them feel valued, understood, and heard. By wearing a mask, just like everyone else, Mr. Pence sent the message that he
- values the advice of renowned medical experts, the people we rely on to navigate through the uncharted waters of this crisis
- Understands the seriousness of COVID-19 and its effects on the people he serves
- Hears our cry for leadership during the crisis
Politicians gain our trust and respect by modeling public service, not public privilege. During a COVDO-19 interview with Russ Limbaugh, when referring to COVID-109 Mr. Pence said, “We’re all in this together”. In deciding to forgo a mask at the Mayo Clinic he blared, “You’re all in this together”. The subsequent image of him at the GM plant, masked, just like everyone else, showed us a leader. COVID-19 is not selective. We’re all in its clutches. We can choose to plow through COVID-19 apart or together. There are myriad examples of citizens marching together. Stick with the team, Mr. Vice President.
