Thoughts On Humble Leadership

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (C) stands and salutes, flanked by US Secretary of Defense Pete ... More Hegseth and US First Lady Melania Trump, as they watch the Army 250th Anniversary Parade from the Ellipse in Washington, DC on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army which also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
I'm supposed to write on (among other things) leadership. Well, now, the events of this past weekend – Donald Trump's military parade that just so happened to coincide with his birthday, and the many hundreds of 'No Kings' protests in all 50 states and in large cities and small towns – made this an easy assignment.
Rather than report this as news – there was plenty of real time reporting going on – I decided to reflect for a couple of days. Here's the result.
The massive bill of $45 million or more paid for a big bust of a parade and – let's call it what it was – a very poorly attended birthday party.
Black Hawk helicopters, Howitzers, and other heavy-duty war machinery were quite the attention getters on Constitution Avenue, which is usually choked by traffic jams of tour buses and private cars. Three dozen or so horses and 30 Abrams tanks showed us how well-prepared we are for World War I. And nearly 7,000 soldiers marching less energetically and with less precision than my junior high school marching band demonstrated what my best friend's son pointed out, that a lot of soldiers would have chosen another activity for their Saturday evening.
And there stood our president, saluting,
All this in front of a crowd of far less than the 200,000 predicted by the administration while, at the same time, 5,000,000 or more Americans all over this great land were showing the vision, commitment, and willingness to get their point across: No Kings.
Reporting aside, the question loomed: What do we make of all this? The answer is in the form of another question. What would a leader more humble than Donald Trump have said or done? And from teaching graduate leadership courses for 15 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University, I offer a few suggestions.
In the shortest inaugural ever given, Washington was more humble than usual.
'I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.
'Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.'
That's it. Then he sat down, let the ceremony proceed, and set to the task of continuing to run this country, a power he willingly yielded four years later, despite widespread public support to stay.
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less."
'Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.' Confucius (born 551 B.C.) is considered the world's first professional teacher.
'Whatever you do may seem insignificant. But it is very important that you do it.' The Mahatma led the largest rebellion in human history.
'People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.'
'Live your life, do your work, take your hat.'

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