Tiger Woods, Leadership and Apology

I have called for Tiger Woods, the public figure, to take full responsibility for his behavior, give up his assertions of privilege, and acknowledge the reality of who he is. 

I have suggested that he do these things not just for the sake of those who admire him or who otherwise follow his leadership, but for his own sake as well.  He will not be able to create something honorable out of this experience until he publicly confronts the hard truths that have exposed the disconnect between Tiger Woods the brand and Tiger Woods the human being.   Woods must be willing to risk letting go of the brand in order to reclaim himself. 

Not everyone agrees with my insistence that more public accountability is necessary.    

Peter F. Goolpacy, who runs the Perfect Apology blog, writes:

We think your expectations (if not demands) regarding Woods' "public" apology miss the mark. Not sure why any of us (including us apology 'experts') deserve any more.

Goolpacy's take on the subject can be found on his blog.  Basically, Goolpacy is satisfied with Tiger Woods' apology statement.  An excerpt: 

With respect the ingredients of a Perfect Apology, and in light of the explanation the general public (including Tiger's fans) deserve for his "transgression", Tiger's apology is as close to perfect as we could expect without damaging the core principles and values he is trying to defend -- "the right to some simple, human measure of privacy" for him and his family as they work through this crisis  

Tiger Woods is accountable to the public for a certain set of transgressions.  These acts are quite distinct from the acts for which he needs to personally apologize and for which he is entitled to privacy.  Tiger Woods is perhaps the world's wealthiest and most privileged athlete.  From where does that wealth and privilege derive?  From his talent, no doubt, but also from a compact he has made with his sponsors and the public.  It has been a carefully cultivated compact that goes way beyond his performance on the golf course and from which he continues to draw resources. 

The Benefits Transprency

Woods is, in every respect, a leader and has offered himself as such.  It now appears that he regrets transgressions (his word).  Until he is clear with himself, his family, and the public, each according to what he owes, as to the exact nature of these transgressions, no one can know that Tiger Woods has rededicated himself to the values he regrets violating. 

Tiger Woods' situation is instructive for business leaders.  He has cultivated an image of perfection on the links and perfection in his private life.  Perfection is an unsustainable standard for human beings because the reality is that none of us is perfect.  Even the most talented leaders make mistakes.  The only question is what do we do about the mistakes? 

By acknowledging, naming, and ultimately accepting his mistakes, Tiger Woods can embrace his humility, make room for his true self, imperfect, and all too human, just like everyone else.  Only then does he have a chance of becoming whole. 

Making Amends 

The highest-quality human beings earn that distinction not by being perfect, but by recognizing that they've hurt other people, and doing their best to make amends. 

Right now Tiger Woods is doing everything wrong.  He has evaded accountability by refusing to talk to the police.  He is trying to hide his mistakes.  The news conference that Gloria Allred scheduled and then abruptly cancelled can only be explained by Woods making a cash settlement with one of the women in question. 

It's tempting to justify these acts as reasonable in a world that is apparently clawing to take away all that he has worked for.  But Woods may find that the world is a lot less punitive than he thinks it is. 

It is arrogant to suppose that such steps as paying for the silence of victims promotes security.  It's also an illusion. 

In a world in which nothing stays hidden forever, it is a transparent act of leadership to act as if you have nothing to hide. 

Tiger Woods, you are only as vulnerable as your secrets.