I'll say it again, it seems to me that the least equipped people (emotionally, not intellectually), too often "rise" to leadership positions. Hubris and insecurity, commonly linked character traits in those who seek power, being the product of many subtle developmental influences (not ready to bring genes into this), finds expression in most if not all of our institutions, large and small. Add ignorance (benign or aggressive, but often accompanying ego) and you have the recipe for failure and/or corruption.
In politics, we almost expect these poor qualifications. We certainly vote for candidates who are lacking in broad experience other than being a candidate back into office time and again. They are defended without question. In essence we vote for the local tribe, or our favored rep of the tribe; but for our tribe.
In business, including the non profit art institution "business," the combination of the above in its leaders, is crippling. I know. I have lived it for 28 years. Ironic that you can lead an institution of creative thinkers but not have the humility or wisdom to listen.
Artists are not the first group we think of as leaders. Yet they are trained to see the whole, the relationship of things, plastic and ephemeral, the things you may not connect. We are problem solvers- not always efficient, but process oriented, disciplined, knowledge seeking, goal oriented, working toward some semblance of structure, of order.
We value history, not ever looking to (intentionally) repeat it. We choose to make it! We look to learn, build and create new ways to look at life, comprehend it. Culture is the core of life. We are culture. We may not be lawyers or doctors but we nurture a body of knowledge very broad and deep. And somehow inspite of this, we tend to sell ourselves short. We allow the public to see us as irrational, and shallow. It is not true, of course, but the historically romantic perception of us adheres and to see us otherwise does not find its way to the hills and valleys. So, just as teaching art is a constant struggle to reset or refute "street aesthetic," getting the lay "leader" to see the artist as more than an irrational infant, is a constant task. Too bad. They miss the point.
Our leaders miss it also. We are lead by too many lawyers, business tycoons large and small, the failed but connected, and those in need of the big. Emotionally, they are not fully equipped. No one profession is the magic path to leadership. So whatever the background, they might stop and listen; they might hear an answer or a direction. They might hear the voice of humility gained from and contributing to experience. They might...
