Joe Biden’s Achilles heel: (Lack of) Flexible Fortitude

In November 2020, right after he was elected, I hoped that Joe Biden would make a wise leader.

I used the 6 capabilities of wise leadership as a framework to describe Biden’s potential to think and act as an enlightened president during his 2020–2024 mandate.

To be fair, Biden did demonstrate some of these capabilities during the first three years of his presidency.

In particular, as I explain in my upcoming book The Frugal Economy, the Biden Administration did more than any other recent government to boldly finance “place-based economic development”, an exciting new paradigm that regenerates left-behind places across America.

Under Biden’s presidency, major federally funded programs like the CHIPS & Science Act, Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) have unleashed an industrial renaissance and climate tech revolution in America’s hinterland states.

Unfortunately, Biden is now falling short on two key wise leadership capabilities:

- Be willing to lead from any position: While Biden led humbly from behind as VP during the Obama Administration, now that he is leading from the front, he is unwilling to let go of his crown and cede power to a more meritorious (and mentally fit) candidate in the 2024 presidential election

- Demonstrate flexible fortitude: Biden’s steely resolve and fighting spirit gave him the endurance needed to confront and win over Trump in a long and exhausting election battle in 2020.

But now, Biden is struggling to “give up” with grace: as a life-long underdog, he fails to realize that life isn’t just about fighting, but also surrendering (which takes greater courage for a leader).