2 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 45, No. 2 From the PLSO Chair MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Choosing Leadership Our organization’s emerging leaders must be exposed to good leadership fundamentals by learning from our history, our role as surveyors in society, and how to lead others toward a vision. In the September/October 2020 issue of The Oregon Surveyor, my column gave an example of leadership from the past by drawing on the iconic United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller during the battle for the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. Today, leaders are emerging in the Russian-Ukraine war, including a Ukrainian Marine who sacrificed himself so that Russian tanks could not advance across a bridge (search Vitaly Skakun Volodymyrovych for this hero’s story). Some may wonder, how is it that any human is capable of self-sacrifice? Whenever we make a self-sacrificing decision, we don’t do it blindly. We know the risks and yet make it anyway. Regardless of whether one is a soldier, there is unquestionably some instinct in each of us to protect the people we love. Whether fighting an uphill battle or in the face of danger, self-sacrifice is a character trait of good leadership that inspires others to do the same. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky knew that Russia would advance and that Kyiv would fall. Yet, hismessage to Russian President Vladimir Putin was that the Russian Army “will see our face, not our backs.” While some leaders facing a situation like this would hide out or run away, good leaders face the challenge and lead by inspiring confidence through credentials, character, charisma, and competency. Leaders have a strong sense of faith in others and a duty to a cause, country, or vision. They exhibit courage and self-sacrifice. The previous column explained three facets of leadership: advancing toward good leadership, barriers to leadership, and the path to leadership. Like President Zelensky, PLSO will face our leadership challenges and not turn away. Turning our face to the challenge is the first step on the path to leadership. The path toward good leadership requires self-sacrifice and love for our profession, organization, and people. Good leadership can be an inherent ability. But for most people, it must be taught and nurtured. Good leadership is practiced and learned. Good leaders are good learners. They learn from the past, understand the present, and prepare for the future. President Zelensky is leading his people toward a path of independence, moving his people from under the shadow of Russia toward sovereignty as an indigenous people of Ukraine. Zelensky understood his nation’s history and the present situation and prepared a vision for Ukraine as best as he could. Like Zelensky, our organization’s emerging leadersmust beexposed to good leadership fundamentals by learning fromour history, understanding our roles Our organization’s emerging leaders must be exposed to good leadership fundamentals by learning from our history, understanding our roles as surveyors in society, and learning how to lead others toward a vision. Jeremy Sherer, PLS PLSO Board Chair
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