Michael A. Smith, Ongoing Contributor - Author, Historian, Public Theologian - Talks about Leading With Integrity--The Need of the Hour!

 

Leading with Integrity--

The Need of the Hour

Michael A. Smith

Historian | Author | Public Theologian

That adage—“Respect is earned, not demanded”—rings especially true in today’s political climate, where public trust is often fragile and hard-won. In an era saturated with self-promotion, sound bites, and performative rhetoric, the distinction between authority and respect has become more pronounced than ever.

Demanding vs. Demonstrating 

When political figures insist on respect—whether through titles, partisan loyalty, or appeals to personal legacy—they risk alienating constituents who value authenticity and accountability. Respect grows from consistent action, not self-congratulation. Voters respond more to leaders who listen, adapt, and serve than to those who assert their importance.


Erosion of Trust

The rise of hyper-partisan media and social platforms has amplified self-focused narratives. Politicians often speak at the public rather than with them, framing themselves as saviors or victims. This can erode trust, especially when promises go unmet or when empathy is replaced by ego.

Respect Through Service. 

Conversely, leaders who earn respect tend to do so quietly—through policies that uplift marginalized voices, through transparency in crisis, and through humility in success. Think of those who show up in disaster zones, who admit mistakes, or who elevate others rather than themselves. These actions resonate far more deeply than declarations of greatness.

A Civic Reminder: 

In a democracy, respect is a reciprocal relationship. Citizens also earn the respect of their leaders through engagement, critique, and care for the common good. The healthiest political cultures are built not on demands, but on mutual recognition and shared responsibility.

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In one way or another, Michael Smith always shares powerfully on things that have become even more important to me--and others--under the present administration in government... Not only because I believe there is NONE of the words related to Integrity within those walls of the buildings now housing the republican party representatives in Washington...

But Michael's words took me back further... In writing my Open Memoir, I always begin at the point where I began to work when I was just 18. I was hired to represent the Office of Personnel as new hires began their jobs on campus. That is, I worked with them to discuss the policies and procedures as a new employee, to get them on the payroll, and to help them understand the benefits assigned to their new positions...

In this job, I became friendly with many people in departments across the campus and later, was the first clerical representative to be voted in to a new Staff Council. I had also been a member of a group that no longer exists these days--The National Secretaries Association, to work to improve the skills and integrity of secretarial positions. I allude to this background only to acknowledge that my background was always to support the role of integrity and excellent performance in any position I held... I believe that was instilled through my mother and my early church life...

You see, when Smith wrote his very first lines:

That adage—“Respect is earned, not demanded”—rings especially true in today’s political climate

I was immediately thrown back to the last years of working for the University where I had been employed for 37 years. 

These words I spoke, not exactly, but in emotional content, I said to my boss at that time, immediately after I have returned from a medical leave, which had been presented to me by my medical doctor--Either leave your job or die, or words to that effect. That day, I left his office and walked off the job, went to the Office of Personnel and sought a medical leave. It was immediately granted. I could proceed to write more, some of which I already have posted, but this is shared to confirm and support all that Michael Smith has talked about today.

When I was released by both medical and psychological doctors to return to work, I was not placed in my former position. You could possibly think it was because of retribution by a new boss who had been caught in a crisis situation, I imagine, and had to handle things in my absence. I was Acting Director of my office at that time... In just one situation that we must watch happening by the U.S. president during the last few months, I was chosen to ensure I would not be able to continue employment. It apparently was happening during my leave as well as when I returned when I was given a special project rather than returning to my position.

It might be relevant for readers at this point, to know that when I started in my first job, I was hired at one of the lowest level clerical positions in that office. Based upon my performance, I was referred for a position with the Provost--the second leader who reported to the University President. Later, when he chose to return to just his Director of Librarians position, I was gratified that he offered me a job in the Library, but that I also received a request to begin working with the Provost for Instruction...which I accrpted. Thereafter, when a new office was created for Facilities and Utilization, I was asked if I was interested... and continued to move upward as that new office expanded, until I was Acting Director of that office which was now called Facilities Planning and Management... Many organization and personnel changes occurred during those years, without any problems until a new level of Assistant VP position was added... That position had been vacated and the director of housing was promoted into the Assistant VP position. That new supervisor, never spent one minute with me at any time I continued as Acting Director. However, when I returned from the Medical Leave, apparently Personnel got involved and asked why I wasn't returned to my position when I had been cleared to return to work...

For the first time since I'd been back, my supervisor came to my office and explained that I needed to sign a form for Personnel. I read it and refused to sign it. That form stated that I had agreed to a demotion, or something to that effect. He looked at me in shock and said, "you won't sign it?" 

I said "No, it was you that decided that I would be put on this project." He fumbled and fumed and said, "Well I had a right to in my position..." I looked at him and said, "You may think you had a right to, and that might be true, but you don't have a right to my respect. Respect must be earned..." He walked out...

I think it is very important with a tyrant like the present president using the power of his position to disregard all established policies and procedures, and has been approved for some by the partisan Supreme Court, that we all remember that this man is no different than the man who chose to remove me from my position without authorization, without any type of discussion, and without approval by known policies and procedures...

Every single person everywhere has a right to be respected as the individual that they are as of the time you may meet them... It is what Jesus required of us... Though he used the word Love... which, as you know, is the overall guidance word for all that Smith showed us in his collage of words above... ALL of those words are guaranteed to us under the Constitution. Please do not ever think that, even the President, has a right to treat you as we, the citizens of America, have been treated since Day 1 of this administration. It is illegal, but, more, it means that no man can treat us as being better than any other person on God's Earth!

Thank you Michael A. Smith for presenting the many words of importance that each one of us must be sure that we use, expect, and, sometimes, demand, as I did when I was treated illegally under the policies and procedures of the University... By the way, I did file a legal suit, or rather, I had a lawyer attend a first meeting when I filed against the University to the Board of Regents... When she had sat through that meeting and we talked later, she was honest... "You have been taken advantage of too often and your workload has increased substantially, but the documentation you have would require so many hours for me to represent you, that you would not be able to afford it..." I chose to immediately file for retirement since I had sufficient years in employment in and walked out as soon as I knew that the University would not support the normal actions that were clearly written in policy... Never think you are alone, though... Help can be found, as long as you know what it is that you want to fight for... I chose not to fight because the administration then in office were similar, although not as bad, as it is in now in Washington. I immediately started working for a small publisher and then on to professional book reviews... As I look back, I'm glad I both stood up for myself and then chose to leave it all behind rather than to fight for something that I felt would not be worth it... We all have the right to make those decisions if we have acted in accordance with documented policies and procedures! You have the right to stand firm in integrity, leading others to know it is possible for them as well!

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