COVID-19: Leadership by Example

It was February 2009 and I had just started working at the Port of Tacoma as director of security. In one of my first meetings with the executive director for the port, I asked him to wear his port-issued ID badge. It was not the norm at the time and a majority of port employees did not display them on their outer garment -- even though it was policy to do so. 

I did this because I knew that if Tim Farrell didn't wear his, who else would? To his credit, he started wearing his ID badge.

Which brings me to Vice President Pence and not wearing a face mask while visiting the Mayo Clinic earlier in the week. Everyone else was wearing a mask; he said he "wanted to look into the eyes" of everyone (I think that is possible while wearing a mask). His wife offered that he didn't know that he should be wearing one. Ah, who is in charge of the White House and administration's pandemic response? He was the only person in the facility not wearing one. I'm waiting for him to say, "Well, the president says he won't wear one" as an excuse for him not wearing one. 

Back to my main point about setting the example. Don't ask others to do something that you yourself are not willing to do. If you want to be a leader, start there!