Show Me a Hero is an HBO mini-series classic. Based on a book by New York Times writer Lisa Belkin and written by David Simon and William F Zorzo, the series explores the political career of Nick Wasicsko, the youngest elected Mayor of Yonkers New York, as he and other councilors battle over the fate of a federally-mandated scattered-site public housing development. It was a site that faced significant NIMBY resistance in the late-1980s shredding political careers of many Yonkers leaders. The six part series is fantastic. It explores racism, NIMBYism, politics, and leadership through captivating and complex characters. One of the enduring themes throughout the story of Wasicsko and other Yonkers folks is what it takes to be a leader. Here are four leadership lessons from Show Me a Hero.
Leaders change
I believe a big part of leadership is about setting a vision and convincing others to follow you towards it. To do in the face of the vitriolic opposition Yonkers city politicians faced when complying with federal desegregation rulings requires confidence in yourself and your beliefs. But confidence and determination are different from arrogance and willful blindness. Throughout the mini-series, many of the characters evolve their thinking and stances following lived experience. Wasicsko changes his position on housing after his election to Mayor when it becomes clear that further opposition is not only morally incorrect, but would also bankrupt the city.
Even more dramatic is community leader Mary Dorman’s change of heart. A founder of the Save Yonkers Federation, she gradually shifts her perspective over the series, from NIMBYism rooted in fear to a role of support and facilitation of the new residents of the affordable housing initiative. A true leader can’t be blind to their lived experience and must constantly consider alternative perspectives and approaches against their own vision. Dialing in a bit of introspection is critical – else you may find yourself ending up like Hank Spallone – a fossil of righteousness.
Mobs aren’t engaging
One of the most poignant moments in Show me a Hero comes when Mayor Wasicsko is confronted by Mary Dorman for having her thrown out of City Hall during a raucous protest against affordable housing. The protests, truth be told, seemed out of hand. Jeers drowned out the possibility for any reasonable conversation. It made sense that Dorman get the boot. But true learning came afterwards when Wasicsko is confronted by Dorman. Neither apologizes for their behavior, but both acknowledge the other one and its clear there is a respect. A quiet conversation is often much more productive than placards and charged vitriol – no matter how much better one feels than the other. More and more, it is becoming clear that the mob mentality warps people and their perceptions. As a leader, find ways to extricate yourself and others who you disagree with. This might mean taking a social media barrage offline. Or de-escalating a situation by inviting people who disagree with you to have a coffee one on one.
Know where you are going
The tragedy of Nick Wasicsko is rooted in a lack of vision beyond political selfishness, which manifests itself after the initial battle for housing desegregation is won – at least at the Yonkers council. Later in the series, Nick’s vision (and political fate) become more questionable. The “why I’m running” is far less clear. This void leads to a series of bad decisions which ruin his friendships, negatively impact his marriage and causes plenty of other political collateral damage. If you are a true leader, you need to have something beyond your own ambitions driving you. Write it down and be clear in your own mind what you are trying to accomplish. Without these goals, you can easily find yourself adrift making bad and principal-less decisions.
Leadership transcends unpopularity
Where do we start with this one? Is it the time that Nick Wasicsko braves death threats and raucous council meetings full of hundreds of angry, loud and determined protesters to pass the motions he needs to in order to usher in de-segregated housing in Yonkers? Or the more quiet leadership of Mary Dorman, who evolves her stance on the housing and stands up to her old rabble-rousing NIMBY friends? Either way, loud or quietly, sometimes (often?) true leadership requires hard choices that are unpopular. Both in politics and life, it is important to make decisions around important things based on clearly considered principles – not whether people will like what you are deciding.