Wayward Politicans

Oh boy. Eliot Spitzer? What gets into people’s heads?

Back in the old days, when these politicians and movie stars – all these high-profile types – were starting out, I’m guessing they never considered going to a pro for sex. They were busy working, growing, hitting personal and professional milestones.

So what makes these risky behaviors so enticing when you get to that level? Is it the thrill of being able to drop $10k – $50k just for the sheer delight in your power? Is it a need to get the kind of deferential treatment in bed that you can expect from an employee? Is it just the saboteur at work? Fear of failure disguised as a political death wish?

My theory is that political leaders need executive coaches just as corporate executives do. Political leaders have unique challenges: they are often elected based on specific campaign promises, which they often in the heat of campaigns without apparent concern for whether the promised action or policy is wise or even feasible; and compromise is not merely a last resort once a politician is elected but a central part of her job in a representative democracy.

So how do leaders keep themselves on track? Surely had Governor Spitzer stopped and asked himself what he was risking, he could have predicted this outcome. If he had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve – not just as a political leader but as a human being – and if he had kept that vision at the center of his personal and public life; if he had spent more time reflecting before charging ahead and getting things done, might he not have taken different paths?