This post was updated on July 25, 2019
Ricardo Rosselló, the embattled governor of Puerto Rico, announced his resignation on Wednesday night, revealing a fundamental truth about leadership. When your followers no longer believe it you, it’s time for you to go—whether sooner or later. A leader whose behavior contravenes the norms and values of the organization he or she leads—or who has committed ethical or criminal acts—is one who forfeits the right to hold authority.
The idea that "enough is enough" echoed through a recent interview Rosselló did with Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. “The corruption is rampant in Puerto Rico,” Smith said. “Economically, Puerto Rico is in a fiscal crisis, $70 billion in debt, and a 13-year recession. In the leaked nearly 900 pages of profanity-laced messages . . . you made light of the casualties of Hurricane Maria, you casually tossed homophobic and misogynistic remarks, you were calling the Puerto Rican former New York City council speaker . . . a whore.”
It's often the case that elected officials become like over-the-hill ballplayers, and so it seemed to be with Rosselló: Everyone knows it is time for the person to leave, except the person in question. And unlike ballplayers who only hurt their teammates, elected officials cheapen their moral authority to lead and therefore hurt the body politic.
"I've heard numerous Puerto Ricans saying you've disrespected them,"Smith added, "that you’ve not led them properly, you made fun of them, that you made light of them. They no longer trust in your leadership.”
Rosselló disagreed, saying that, despite days of street protests, he should remain in office. Days later, as pressure on him intensified, the governor announced that he would step down on August 2.
Rosselló was out of touch with his constituents. Why? Because he violated their trust.
People in power can only govern with the acquiescence of the populace. The same holds true for anyone in power. While corporate executives are not typically challenged by their employees, business leaders must be accountable to their boards of directors.
One caveat: Every leader, elected or appointed, will fall into disfavor from time to time. In fact, that might be considered a necessary part of the job since leaders are required to make tough decisions that inevitably will make some people unhappy. This does not mean that a leader in this situation should resign. Rather, the leader might actually deserve more time in office. Leaders who seeks popularity by only pleasing one faction or another are not leading; they are only occupying space. But leaders who make decisions for the greater good, even when people complain, are doing their jobs.
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity,” said President Dwight Eisenhower. “Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Leadership comes down to serving the needs of the organization. It is a privilege that followers grant to the person in charge. When that privilege is revoked, the leader must exit.
