Restraint and the Art of Leadership

Sometimes the truest test of leadership is knowing when to keep silent.

I write this President's Page to the many members who have written to ask, "Vince, aren't you going to address this?" "Didn't you hear what he said?" "Did you see what she wrote?" I have received many letters, emails, and inbox messages expressing concern about comments and conduct in the presidential election, judicial elections, assembly meetings, section council meetings, newspaper editorials, the ISBA listserve, and almost every other medium. I have been invited, even challenged, more times than I can count to lead the charge.

During the U.S. presidential election, I was often urged to address statements made by the new President that many members found reprehensible. While I too found some of the statements offensive, I was mindful that our membership is likely as divided politically as our nation in general.

Accordingly, I avoid the temptation to use my ISBA president's voice to advance my personal or political agendas or those of various segments of our membership. I believe that in my role as ISBA president, I must refrain from confronting, contesting, and correcting every individual, political candidate, jurist, or ISBA member who says something that is, or seems to be, insensitive.

As many of you know, I have committed a significant amount of my ISBA presidency to promoting diversity and inclusion and addressing bias and insensitivity. We have invited nationally recognized speakers. I have written about these issues and given numerous speeches, including the keynote speech at the Illinois Supreme Court's Judicial Conference, where I spoke about the impact of these issues on social justice. The feedback from the justices and judges was overwhelmingly positive. These have been some of the most gratifying opportunities of my year as president.

When I have written about bias, I have received emails, snail mail, and phone calls from people praising my initiation of the dialogue. I also heard from ISBA members who felt personally offended at the very suggestion that they could harbor bias, implicit or otherwise.

I know that our association can never achieve unanimity of opinion and thought. I understand that as a leader you are often damned if you do and damned if you don't. That is the price of leadership, and I signed on with my eyes open. What, then, is a bar president to do?

Well, this president has decided to attack issues, as opposed to attacking people, even when someone objectively seems to deserve more direct attention. While this may not always be possible, it is my goal. I endeavor, to the greatest extent possible, to exercise restraint and avoid public disputes with ISBA members with whom I or others disagree. I take the same approach to political issues, again, to the greatest extent possible. While there are circumstances where a president's silence would also be inappropriate, I will continue to proceed with caution.

I appreciate the passion of ISBA members. I respect their concern for our association, our profession, our state, and our country. I also have a great appreciation for the intellectual acumen and moral resolve of our membership. I am confident that because of that intellectual acumen, members understand that ISBA leaders cannot police the propriety of every statement or action.

That said, I do have a suggestion, which is rooted in a rule in my home. We do not ever criticize, attack, or negatively comment on the immutable characteristics of another person or group. We are all so vulnerable and sensitive to attacks on the aspects of ourselves that we cannot change. It affects the psyche in very negative, profound, and lasting ways.

I recently read a social media post that said, "Never trust your tongue when you heart is bitter." Another quote, often attributed to the late, revered poet Maya Angelou, says, "People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

What if we remembered this at all times? What if we endeavored to empower one another every time we parted our lips, put pen to paper, or touched a computer keyboard? I wonder if there is an app for that.