“To lead is to ask” (Harvey 99). Harvey’s approach to identifying and reframing questions was a very clear way to assess the leader-follower relationship and the important questions leaders must ask. He was able to pull in many other published ideas about leadership and identify the questions (and their order) that groups and their leaders must confront. I loved reading this chapter and was able to see the identified questions and their sequence in the current context of COVID-19.  I wanted to point out the one question that I think is most absent in the current context of the national leader-follower relationship between Trump, and the general government, and the public.

The final question: Do we understand? I think often, in smaller groups, it is not asked because the prior questions assist in identifying goals, the path to get there, and group identity; and it is assumed that people understand. I know for myself, I have been a follower where I feel like this question was not answered, and it leads me to not feel invested because ideas became so complex and were never explained in a simple way to reinforce my personal involvement. Harvey identifies the main problem as that leaders have more at stake than followers, as they are often the driving force. Not only that, but he brings up the fact that followers are rooted in the present, while leaders attempt to live in the future. Asking this question can merge both the leader and followers together to re-enforce understanding and “team” identity. A strong example of this communication, (simplification without becoming condescending) was Roosevelt and his use of the radio. His “fireside chats” allowed him to create a personal connection with the American public and simplify and communicate important topics. Such as the bank panic of March 1933, where he was able to calmly, clearly, and simply explain to the American public the complex information and current state and express a personal tone and encourage the public to take action.

COVID WARNING

I think with this current state a lot of the questions have been answered. We have been identified in this current context as not only a nation but a global community. The leader and follower dynamic is national, there are constant updates on the news about what’s happening, we know how we are doing, we are working towards more testing, we are trying to go into the direction of a vaccine, we know why we should care. But really, that final question of “do we understand?” is missing. The news today is plagued by rising numbers of those taken by COVID-19, insensitively lumping lost lives into statistics. I think that the urgency of quarantine must be approached the same way Roosevelt approached the bank crisis. Our current way of communication creates national panic driven by fear and uncertainty, fueling the over-buying, hoarding, national stress, and a lost sense of “togetherness.” Asking the question “do we understand?” would look like an explanation of why quarantine is important (because I know there are a lot of people, especially my generation, that aren’t following the guidelines), and re-enforcing the understanding that this is a scary time, but each American can do their part to assist in a faster solution and slower spread.