The Art of the Smear

What Was Traditionally Meant For Politicians Is Now You

I’ve previously discussed the danger that leaders pose when they are more concerned about their reputation than their character. To summarize, we think we control our reputation, but we don’t, and if we make decisions to protect this falsehood, we are likely to compromise those decisions.

Whenever a leader thinks, “What will others think?” you can guarantee the decision will be disastrous for you and the organization.

In my seminars, I typically will point at a student and tell them I can prove this by personally ruining their reputation by the next day. I could write something horrible about them, inconspicuously label the article an “opinion” and there is nothing they can do about it. If I get the headline just right, it will go viral, whatever “reputation” they thought they had will be over, and it will live on the internet forever.

Of course, I would never do that, but there are plenty of evil entities that do. It’s so frequent, they have a term for it, and in a rare moment of transparency, Representative Nancy Pelosi described it:

Frankly, this didn’t bother me much when it was relegated to politicians. Everyone understands that (and stock trading) is part of the business, but for years now, The Art of the Smear has been in law enforcement, and the media has been a gleeful partner.

Why?

The reason law enforcement is now dealing with this is the profession's politicization. Issues such as use of force, systematic racism, and many others are not just talking points but the center of political campaigns and news stories. These critical topics elicit emotion, and emotion sells.

A decade ago, the New York Times decided that Dr. Bill Lewinsky and Force Science needed to be discredited.

After all, we wouldn’t want science and research getting in the way of a profitable narrative. As a Force Science Analyst, the headline is about as far from the truth as you can get, but the truth has nothing to do with this game.

The lies always work because there is never a shortage of cowards trying to protect THEIR reputation.

It’s not just large organizations like Force Science that deal with this. Dave Grosman is a friend and has been teaching for decades. Here is just one of many lies told about him.

If you think you are immune to any of this, here is what the liars did to my friend Chief (ret.) Tim Barfield last year.

Tim Barfield is as good as it gets. Legitimately, if you knew him he would be the best person you would know and if it can happen to him, everyone is fair game and the game works.

The only way to avoid it is to shut up and that’s the point.

I’ve been called “controversial” more times than I care to discuss. The last time it happened was in a deposition where I was serving as an expert witness. The opposing counsel pulled up a headline and accused me of being a controversial figure. That’s not true for me, Tim, Dave or Dr. Lewinsky.

The Art of the Smear makes it controversial.

Unfortunately, we live in a time where telling the truth is controversial and lying is tolerated for political or narrative gain. As I told that attorney and will tell anyone in the future: I’m not going to explain what a lying reporter should be explaining. The controversy is a society (or lawyer) that suspends their common sense and uses the media as some sort of factual evidence.

How Does This Happen?

In a civil society, none of this would be tolerated but we are long past that. The only recourse for anyone on the other side of the smear is a defamation lawsuit, and that is a complicated and costly process. The current case law dictating defamation was decided 60 years ago, long before the internet. Not only do you have to prove actual malice, but the first line of defense will always be that the smear was simply an “opinion” and opinions have long been protected by the First Amendment. The media can write their lies as facts but tag the article as an opinion and there isn’t anything that can be done.

Until there is a price to be paid for the smear, it will only continue.

A Leadership Dillema

Leaders have a clear decision to make regarding this evil playbook. They can always stay quiet, agree with the media narrative at all times and make decisions, not based on what is right, but based on “how it will look.”

Plenty are taking that path but it’s a path to destruction.

The other decision is simple but not always easy. Make decisions based on facts and tell the truth at all times…regardless of what the liars may say or do.

As someone that has gone down each road, I can tell you that both are pretty miserable but in a different way..

If everything you do revolves around what others think, your soul will be crushed because you are living a lie. If you take the path of truth, you will suffer financially and that next job you want may never be.

Leadership is a blood sport but my decision has been made for years. I will never comprimise the truth for anyone regardless the consequences.

That is the narrow road and the path to courage.

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Dr. Travis Yates retired as a commander with a large municipal police department after 30 years of service. He is the author of “The Courageous Police Leader: A Survival Guide for Combating Cowards, Chaos & Lies.” His risk management and leadership seminars have been taught to thousands of professionals across the world. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy with a Doctorate Degree in Strategic Leadership and the CEO of the Courageous Police Leadership Alliance.