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A Few Thoughts on Leadership

I expect China to be the first international trouble spot.

The Trump administration is now in the hot seat. I was thinking about how difficult that might be. Recognize that when you move into a new job there are other staffers present "who know how things work." That is not the case for the White House. Everyone is new! It isn't as if you can go down the hall and ask, "How did you guys do this before?" There are bound to be some rough spots in the next few weeks as people get the hang of their new positions, including the president.

Having everyone in "alignment" on an issue is critical in my opinion if you are going to achieve organizational success. There should be opportunity for debating courses of action, but once the decider in chief makes a decision, everyone needs to get on board. If dissenting views still exist and become public, I think it is a significant drag on the ability to achieve results.  

Certainly the confirmation hearings for a number of senior positions have had the soon-to-be-appointed secretaries expressing opinions that were the opposite of what now President Trump said on the campaign trail. Will that continue? Will there be clarity on what President Trump's opinions and decisions on a range of topics are? I don't know.

There might be a period of rosier relationships with Russia, however, I see China as simmering pot of hot liquid that could boil over at any minute. They are not going to stand for being a whipping boy and at some point they will send a strong and demonstrable message to make their point. It will not be just words, but actions of one sort or another. Then it will be game on and a test of the new administration.

Remember, we are also personal pawns on the international chess board. And, you know what happens sometimes to pawns. 

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.
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