Now that Trump has become a jaded subject,
at least, in the world community, I think an analysis can be made of his style
and life thus far. I write this as a person who has worked in industry, under
people who have been a disastrously second-generation of business owners, also
called second-generation entrepreneur (SGE).
As we all know Trump is a SGE, who has not
had the experience of being out there, in the vanguard, fighting for his
business. On the contrary, he has had everything handed down to him, without
much difficulty, inherited from a rich father. He became complacent as a result
and looked down upon people who worked for a living, to make ends meet.
I had seen him in the reality show The
Apprentice a few times. I must say the similarity to some SGEs I worked with
was stark. I said, “Oh, the similarity with my boss is obvious.” This is the
boss who in a few years liquidated the business his father had assiduously
built up. He is charismatic, lovable, jokes a lot, laughs but when you are
close to him his flaws are like elephants in the room: he is disdainful of his own
staff and ridicule and insults them liberally. Therefore he doesn’t get quality
people to work with him, with the result that he has to, or, is compelled to do
everything himself. Talented people would come to work for him and would leave
in a few weeks, if not days. He is risk averse and quality people need to take
risks to achieve their goals. Thus Trump doesn’t trust anyone to draft his
executive orders; he has to do them himself, and signs them with a flourish,
seemingly having achieved a lot. See the way he has been shown signing decrees
with his vice-president and cabinet members in attendance. He is holding court
like a SGE.
SGEs are people who have no achievement to
their name but are applauded everywhere, conferred awards, felicitated, and
lionised. Everywhere they go they receive a red carpet with the result they
believe they are stars and that they were born to this sort of lifestyle.
SGEs also ignore some of the basic facts
that make up the lives of people who slog for them from nine to five. People
who have worked in low-paying jobs and have been promoted know how hard it is
to rise in the organisation and how they have to carry their people with them.
The second generation, such as Trump, do not see this need. They think hiring and
firing will do the trick and, as an example, see how national security adviser Michael
Flynn was unceremoniously sacked.
Since SGEs survive through the fear
psychosis they create, they neither hear people out, nor do they value their
advice. They only trust their own decisions and the opinions of the “yes” men
who surround them. Watch any video of Trump and you will see how tense people
are around him. They are almost afraid of what he will say next. When he speaks
you can see even his closest aides flinch.
There are no black and whites in governance
and management. Everything is coloured by greys. The best men for the job often
carries his people with him and encourages them to come up with good decisions
based on their experience and knowledge. There aren’t many people in Trump’s
team who can do this.
That’s why the credibility of the Trump
administration is sorely lacking and there’s the constant fight with the press.
The press is an integral part of US governance and if they are ignored,
vilified, and humiliated (as Trumps refusal to attend White House Correspondents’
dinner shows) then the powerful press lobby will take an adversarial stand.
Unlike in India journalists in the US can’t be bought, or, mollycoddled. The press
is indeed powerful in the US they have the knowledge, background, and history
to support their independence and impartiality.
This could prove to be a decider in the
realpolitik of that great country.