In sports and politics leadership can sometimes be as much a function of appearance as it can action.
Take for example a basketball coach who routinely loses his or her temper on the sidelines. When a player gets out of control during a game or practice, why should the player listen to a coach's rebuke? Chances are the team would tune the coach out.
While that might be a simplistic example it shows that if someone, including an important public official, isn't careful even their appearance can be a powerful image to those under their leadership.
When a person's image is tarnished, like that of Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get voters or fellow party members to follow your lead.
On Friday, Sheridan paid back expenses after he said he was erroneously compensated for twice by the state for a trip to a November Council of State Governments conference in California. A lobbyist who Sheridan confessed to having a relationship with also was at the conference. The lobbyist, Shanna Wycoff, represents the payday lending industry.
Sheridan and his Assembly Democratic team are working to hammer out a bill that would somewhat regulate the payday lending industry in Wisconsin.
While Sheridan paid back the $631 he received from the perceived double-dipping for the travel expenses it is yet another blow to his image, as the Associated Press reported Sunday. When compounded with the perceived conflict of interest regarding his personal relationship with Wycoff and the payday lending bill, this latest blow, one would imagine, would have to make it difficult for his fellow Democrats in the legislature and voters in his district to follow his leadership.
The writing might be on the wall for Sheridan, and his role as Assembly speaker could soon succumb to the pressure of perceived reality.
Take for example a basketball coach who routinely loses his or her temper on the sidelines. When a player gets out of control during a game or practice, why should the player listen to a coach's rebuke? Chances are the team would tune the coach out.
While that might be a simplistic example it shows that if someone, including an important public official, isn't careful even their appearance can be a powerful image to those under their leadership.
When a person's image is tarnished, like that of Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, D-Janesville, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get voters or fellow party members to follow your lead.
On Friday, Sheridan paid back expenses after he said he was erroneously compensated for twice by the state for a trip to a November Council of State Governments conference in California. A lobbyist who Sheridan confessed to having a relationship with also was at the conference. The lobbyist, Shanna Wycoff, represents the payday lending industry.
Sheridan and his Assembly Democratic team are working to hammer out a bill that would somewhat regulate the payday lending industry in Wisconsin.
While Sheridan paid back the $631 he received from the perceived double-dipping for the travel expenses it is yet another blow to his image, as the Associated Press reported Sunday. When compounded with the perceived conflict of interest regarding his personal relationship with Wycoff and the payday lending bill, this latest blow, one would imagine, would have to make it difficult for his fellow Democrats in the legislature and voters in his district to follow his leadership.
The writing might be on the wall for Sheridan, and his role as Assembly speaker could soon succumb to the pressure of perceived reality.
