PR for People Monthly March 2018 #Synergy | Page 15

For those who are too young to remember, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the antiwar protest was a bloody movement that ripped apart the fabric of the United Stares. The whole world is watching was a recurring slogan chanted by antiwar demonstrators during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. And although fifty years have passed, the whole world is indeed watching to see what Americans will do to restore normalcy to the White House. Restoring normalcy means we need to take back our democracy.

After we emerged as a major power in World War I, America has been perceived as a world leader. Our core American values have always been fairness, equality, justice, and a proven measure of freedom embodied in our bill of rights and repeatedly tested in our U.S. Constitution. The founding fathers framed the Constitution to be a living document. Able to expand and adapt to a changing world, the Constitution protects our democracy. The current White House makes a mockery of our core values and has thrown our nation into a constitutional crisis. In order to regain our primary democratic values, we are in desperate need of new leadership, but where will our new leaders come from?

If we examine leadership as a management tool in business, then we can see that leadership is a huge business. A report by the market research firm IBISWorld at the end of 2014 said coaching is a $1 billion industry in the U.S. alone. The Membership of the International Coach Federation has more than tripled. Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in leadership. Even Harvard offers 2-day Classes on Leadership Coaching, so business executives can rattle the saber and say they have a Harvard certificate. With so many Americans training to become better, more effective leaders, why is there a "disconnect" between our top leadership in the White House and everyone else?

The Whole World is Watching

by Patricia Vaccarino