The Dr. John Bedker Leadership Podcast

This episode showcases the ultimate mission of leadership- to do the right thing.  A Good example is President Biden passing the torch of leadership to a younger generation.  A Bad example is shown in Senator J.D. Vance's accepting his role and responsibilities to be Donald Trump's Vice-President pick.  Lastly, an Ugly example is demonstrated by the moral, ethical, and legal ineptitude of an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas.  Thomas and Vance have sold themselves out to wealth power and position.  Biden has chosen to do the right thing.

This episode addresses the stark contrast between the two candidates for President of the United States. One seeking autocracy and autocratic rule.  The other seeking to advance democracy, but not seeing the opportunities to pass the torch to a younger and highly qualified group of leaders.  Leadership is about doing the right thing.  Both could learn from this simple, yet profound, axiom.

The election this coming November is existential.  From a leadership perspective, the choice is clear.

This episode showcases Kindness as a leadership core competency.  Kindness is free. It is uplifting and can have a ripple effect on others. Kindness is needed in our turbulent and troubled world and can play a consequential and strategic role in your leadership journey. Incorporate kindness in your leadership practice.

The economic competition between China and the West could not be more important.  There exists no central agency or authority to manage or lead this critical effort.  A coordinated approach with friends and allies is essential. This episode lays out a beginning framework for such an effort.  Defense and diplomacy are not enough.  We need economic leadership to prevail. 

Mr. Goh Choon Phong, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Singapore Airlines was awarded the 2024 Airline Transport World Excellence in Leadership Award. His leadership journey has been remarkable. His drive to be customer-centric, meaning both employees and travelers, has proven an important leadership benchmark for success; be process-driven rather than outcome-based. Service excellence, product leadership, and network ease are his three pillars of leadership - an exemplary leader, with exemplary values for each of us to follow.

 

 

Trust is based upon trustworthy behavior. Trust is an essential leadership core competency. What you say and what you do are the connecting dots to trustworthy behavior. For leadership to be effective it must be consistent. In this episode, Dr. Bedker looks back at two previous episodes and updates their continued untrustworthy behavior. The First Congressional District of Virginia and the Boeing Commercial Aircraft Company are showcased.

The issue of homelessness is a far too frequent presence in our lives. Cities across our nation offer a disturbing display of a challenging and multivariate public health issue. From resource funding, to training, knowledge, and experience for public health leaders, to every one of us; we must be aware and sensitive to help those in need. The challenges are numerous and the time to mitigate homelessness may be lengthy, but we all must be aware of our common call to help those in need. A particular mention of homeless veterans is offered.

Our world is troubled and it is turbulent. Leadership today is more needed and necessary than ever before. There is leadership strength in numbers. Each of us must speak up, speak out, and defend the truth, defend facts, and as we are all called to do: do the right thing. We know what the right thing is; the call to action for each of us is to do the right thing. 

This episode showcases an exemplary leader, Thurgood Marshall. The first African-American to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. A believer in realism, not textualism. A believer in equal protection.  Justice Marshall was a notable supporter of human, individual, and civil rights. In doing this he personified the quest of this podcast: do the right thing.

In this episode Dr. Bedker goes back to the very reason for this podcast; the halcyon call for leaders to “do the right thing.” In our troubled and turbulent world, leaders may find difficulty in doing the right thing. The case is made that doing the right thing, even in the most difficult of times, is the ultimate responsibility of leaders. Tell the truth, do not operate from fear, and give hope to those you lead.