Last week I was asked to define leadership and describe my style of leadership. Today I came up with a succinct answer:

Leadership is being responsible for problems and failures while giving credit for success to those who do the work. Leaders say, That’s my fault. Blame me. My team and I will fix this. Leadership is the clear display of strength, compassion, honesty and character.

I watch Governor Andrew Cuomo display real leadership. I haven't been Cuomo's biggest fan, but in this crisis he has been remarkable. So too have Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and City Of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh.

Less impressive has been the idiot man-child in the White House who cries that the pandemic is outlasting his short attention span.

Leadership is about mission and people, not the leader. If it is about someone who thinks he is a leader, then he is no leader at all. At best, he might lead us, in this case, quite literally to death.

I'm thinking about leadership a lot these days. Choices of leadership are on display. Clear choices. We each need to choose wisely.