Are you willing to take a stand while everyone else just stands by?

Confronting is uncomfortable. But leaders who are willing to face challenges head-on—at the risk of public embarrassment or personal injury—model what it means to be a brave Sharper Leader.

I moved to Auburn, Alabama, in 2010. For fans of college football, you’ll recognize that as a pretty good year for Auburn University.  At my first home game as an Auburn employee, before the game started, I noticed a ruckus a few rows in front of me.

During the singing of God Bless America, a young man was being extremely disrespectful—toward the song and the crowd. Most people watched silently. Some muttered under their breath. A few were bold enough to scold him from a safe distance.

The man was clearly inebriated and had zero concern for how he represented himself or anyone else. I’m not 100% certain he knew what state he was in. When the song ended, with hundreds of eyes fixated on him, his disgusting behavior escalated.

As the marching band began playing the Star-Spangled Banner, one man stood out from the crowd of shocked and frustrated fans. That was the first time I ever saw the future mayor of Auburn, Ron Anders.

From my seat, I witnessed Ron carefully approach the young man. I couldn’t hear what was said, but Ron leaned in and appeared to offer him firm yet fatherly advice. For a brief moment, the crisis seemed to be averted.

But shortly into the national anthem, the young resumed shouting obscenities and waving a single finger around—not insinuating everyone was number one. Without hesitation, Ron took decisive action.

It was clear he believed the man had been given ample warning. Ron firmly took him by the arm and escorted the drunk fan directly to the police.

Given the man’s earlier resistance, I anticipated a struggle. It was apparent to the entire crowd that Ron meant business. Upon Ron's intervention, with a look of embarrassed defeat, the young man snapped to attention and adhered to Ron’s leadership.

As the disruptor was led away, the crowd began clapping and cheering for the only person who had taken charge.

Less than a month later, my boss, Jennifer Jarvis, took me to a business meeting near campus. On the way, she said she was about to introduce me to a “strong leader, a really good guy, and a true Auburn man.”

When we arrived, I recognized the man waiting for us as the same man from the football game. Because he was opening the door for us, I assumed he worked for the man we were there to meet. As we approached him, Jennifer said, “This is my friend, Ron Anders.”  

As we shook hands, it felt like I was reconnecting with a long-lost friend. At the conclusion of our meeting, I shared the story from the football game. Ron was humbly embarrassed, and Jennifer said she was not surprised.

In the sixteen years I’ve known Ron, I have witnessed him continuously demonstrate what it means to be a Sharper Leader. I consider myself blessed to call him a friend. I have enjoyed seeing and supporting him as he leads the city of Auburn with the same confidence and decisive strength I witnessed that day.