A lot to learn from the FBI director this week about reputation management & leadership

Please don’t look at the following as delving into presidential politics in any way, shape or form. Whatever your feelings are about the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails don’t really interest me. While I know some will share those opinions, it’s not my purpose to solicit such views.

Instead, I’m urging you to put aside your emotions and political opinions when you look at the testimony before Congress today (Thursday) by FBI director James Comey (video of opening statement is above) and Comey’s announcement Tuesday about the conclusion of the investigation (video below). Don’t focus on whether you believe what Comey and the FBI did about the Clinton emails was right or wrong. Look instead at how a top government official is dealing with a potentially enormous reputation management issue.

It didn’t take a genius to predict that whatever the FBI’s findings were, they would be extremely controversial and would dominate news coverage for days, if not weeks. So far, it has lived up to that billing.

What I’m specifically focusing on is what Director Comey did after making that decision. While I’ve always warned about not defending the indefensible, it’s equally important to stand up and be counted when you’re certain an unpopular decision is the right way to go. What James Comey is doing is exactly what I’ve long encouraged fire chiefs and other leaders to do when faced with a decision that will piss off many people: Don’t run and hide, but instead embrace and explain what you’ve done and why you’ve done it.

I’m not expert enough to argue whether the FBI decision was correct, legal or just. But I will share the opinion that James Comey’s actions, once the FBI concluded its investigation, are among the finest examples of leadership and accountability I’ve seen from any government official, anywhere.

There’s a lot to learn from James Comey over the last few days. I encourage you to study it closely.