• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
  • GIVING
  • INTRANET
  • STUDENT PORTAL
  • Nav Social Menu

    Facebook LogoTwitter LogoInstagram LogoYouTube LogoLinkedin LogoSearch icon

The Bush School of Government & Public Service

Public Service is a noble calling.

  • ABOUT
    • About The Bush School
    • Meet the Dean
    • Bush School Advisory Board
    • News/Media >
      • Bush School News
      • Bush School in the Media
      • Bush School Podcasts
      • Inside The Bush School
      • Social Media
      • Media Information
    • Allen Building
    • Annenberg Conference Center
    • The 41 Award
    • Outstanding Alumni Award
    • Directory/Contact Info
  • ACADEMICS
    • International Affairs >
      • Bachelor’s in International Affairs
      • Master of International Affairs
      • Master of International Policy
      • Bachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Program
      • Master of International Affairs & Public Health (Combined)
      • Master of Science in Economics & Master of International Affairs (Combined)
    • Political Science >
      • Political Science Minors
      • Bachelor’s in Political Science
      • Bachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Program
      • PhD in Political Science
    • Public Service & Administration >
      • Bachelor’s in Public Service and Administration
      • PSAA Minors
      • Bachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Program
      • Master of Public Service & Administration
      • Executive Master of Public Service & Administration
      • Master of PSAA & Education (Collaborative)
      • Master of PSAA & Public Health (Collaborative)
    • Graduate Certificates >
      • Advanced International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Nonprofit Management
      • Public Management
      • Geospatial Intelligence
      • National Security Affairs
    • Bush School Online >
      • Executive Master of Public Service & Administration
      • Advanced International Affairs Certificate
      • Homeland Security Certificate
      • Nonprofit Management Certificate
      • Public Management Certificate
      • Geospatial Intelligence
    • Bush School DC >
      • Master of International Policy
      • Master of National Security & Intelligence
      • Graduate Certificate in Advanced International Affairs
  • ADMISSIONS
    • Apply Now!
    • International Affairs
    • Political Science
    • Public Service & Administration
    • Bachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Program
    • Bush School Online >
      • Executive Master of Public Service and Administration
      • Graduate Certificates
    • Bush School DC >
      • Master of International Policy
      • Master of National Security & Intelligence
    • Funding & Cost >
      • International Affairs
      • Political Science
      • Public Service & Administration
      • Bachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Program
      • Graduate Certificates
    • Undergraduate Advising
  • FACULTY
    • Faculty Directory >
      • Full-Time Faculty Directory
      • INTA Faculty Directory
      • POLS Faculty Directory
      • PSAA Faculty Directory
      • DC Faculty Directory
      • Research Directory
    • Faculty Research >
      • Research Overview
      • Faculty Publications and Grants
      • Capstone Projects
      • Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy
      • Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy
      • Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
      • Albritton Center for Grand Strategy
    • Faculty Experts
    • Faculty Spotlights
  • RESEARCH
    • Institutes >
      • Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy
      • Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy
      • Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
    • Centers >
      • European Union Center
      • Albritton Center for Grand Strategy
      • Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy
    • Programs >
      • Intelligence Studies Program
      • Program on Women, Peace, and Security
      • Middle East Program
      • Program on Cyber Policy, Strategy, and Security
      • Economic Statecraft Program
      • City & County Governance Program
    • Faculty Research
    • Student Research >
      • INTA Capstone Projects
      • PSAA Capstone Projects
      • PSAA Mini Capstone Projects
  • STUDENTS
    • Prospective Students
    • Current Undergrad Students >
      • Undergraduate Advising
      • Honors & Thesis Program
      • Student Resources
    • Current Master’s Students >
      • Capstone Projects
      • Public Service Leadership Program
      • Student Organizations
      • Leadership Development
      • Medal of Excellence
    • Current PhD Students >
      • Hire a Bush School PhD
      • Student Resources
    • Alumni
    • Career Services >
      • Employment Statistics
      • Internship Information
      • Career Search Info
      • Employers
      • Hire a Bush School PhD
      • FAQ
    • Student Spotlights
  • EVENTS
    • Upcoming Events
    • Annenberg Conference Center
    • Directions & Parking Info
    • Recruitment Events
    • News/Media
  • DC SITE
    • About Bush School DC
    • Academic Programs
    • Admissions
    • Career Services
    • News
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Staff/Contact Info
News

October 24, 2011

Dean Card Speaks at Brown Bag Seminar

Andrew Card

Acting dean of the Bush School, Andrew H. Card, spoke to students on Monday, October 3, about his leadership experiences in three White House administrations.  Part of the School’s Conversations in Leadership series, the presentation was facilitated by the Bush School Student Government Association’s Speaker and Leadership Development program.

Dean Card began the hour-long lunch session by describing how students can discover if they and the people around them are leaders.  He acknowledged that the only true way to find out is to test one’s own capacity. He then outlined the qualities he believes are common to emerging leaders, including optimism, courage, a love of being loved, and the willingness to embrace power. 

In elaborating on each of these qualities, the dean gave students pragmatic advice about how to be effective leaders, noting that leaders must be optimistic, or willing to seek solutions and believe that they are part of the solution to problems.  In addition, Card said that leaders must understand the duality inherent in leadership roles: there will be times when leaders are adored and times when they are intensely disliked.  He clarified this duality by citing the American political system, which encourages candidates to run on platforms inspiring love and devotion among constituents and then exposes elected leaders to periods of intense loneliness when constituents do not approve of their activities. 

Dean Card also suggested that leaders must have the tools necessary to be a good leader; for him, this means embracing power, an action that followers tend not to appreciate.  Effective leaders, however, realize that they can either receive or take power; and how a leader uses power determines why constituents follow him or her. The use of power involves managing expectations, he added, and a leader’s knowledge of how to manage expectations defines the tone and manner of leadership.

This often entails using power in one of three ways:  through love, fear, or respect. Ideally, Card said, leaders will seek respect because they recognize that they will not be loved all the time.  If they strive to maintain their followers’ admiration, they will ultimately lose their respect.  He emphasized that leading through respect motivates people, and encourages them to do what they often do not want to do.  Leaders must realize, however, that commanding fear is necessary to sustain leadership during times when constituents do not agree with the leader.

The students not only got practical leadership advice from Dean Card, but also enjoyed hearing real life examples of how these qualities and suggestions work as he related his personal experiences with three presidents of the United States.  He cited President George W. Bush’s controversial policy shift following 9/11, establishing countries as either “with us” or “against us” in the war on terrorism, as a prime example of the three ways in which leaders lead. This statement caused countries to choose their allies based on fear, love, or respect.

After his presentation, the dean took questions from students, with topics ranging from inquiry about his toughest leadership position and how to embrace leadership as an entry-level job candidate to establishing credibility as a leader. 

Second-year MPSA student Michael Ghutzman said:  “At the Bush School, students are constantly given opportunities to interact with and listen to notable speakers from various fields. Dean Card gave an outstanding talk on the topic of leadership. Where else would a student have the opportunity to learn leadership skills from the second longest serving chief of staff in US history?”

Category: Bush School News

Primary Sidebar

News Links

  • Bush School News
  • Bush School in the Media
  • Bush School Podcasts
  • Inside The Bush School
  • Social Media
  • Media Information
Events Allen Building Directory/Contact Info

Prospective Students | Learn about the Bush School

Facebook LogoTwitter LogoInstagram LogoYouTube Logo

Footer

Bush School Logo
College Station  |  Online  |  Washington, DC
CS Map  |  DC Map  |  Directory
CS Phone: 979-862-3469
DC Phone: 202-773-0001


ACADEMICS

• International Affairs
• Political Science
• Public Service & Admin
• Graduate Certificates
• Bush School Online
• Bush School DC


FACULTY

• INTA Faculty Directory
• POLS Faculty Directory
• PSAA Faculty Directory
• DC Faculty Directory
• Faculty Research
• Faculty Spotlights


STUDENTS

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Alumni
• Employment Statistics
• Hire a PhD
• Career Services


RESEARCH

• ISTPP
• Mosbacher Institute
• Scowcroft Institute
• European Union Center
• CGS
• Center for Nonprofits


Facebook LogoTwitter LogoInstagram LogoYouTube LogoLinkedin Logo
©2024 The Bush School of Government and Public Service · Texas A&M University

State of Texas · State Links & Policies · Link Policy
Privacy & Security Policy · Accessibility Policy · Intranet · Student Portal
Aggie Awareness

Click here to visit the George & Barbara Bush Foundation Click here to visit the Texas A&M University website, tamu.edu Click here to make a donation to Texas A&M through the Texas A&M Foundation Click here to visit the George H.W. Bush Library website, bush41.org

Click here to visit the APSIA website Click here to visit the AmeriCorps website Click here to visit the NASPAA website