I had a really great call yesterday. A friend and colleague reached out to discuss an ongoing collaboration, and as good conversations do, it developed into a 40 minute romp through so much more. And as you could guess, at one point we landed on the topic of state politics in the midst of COVID. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a more salient subject when you want to study leadership, and what it takes to serve at a time when you know that no one “wins”.
Then they asked me for a book recommendation (this is my love language).
Doris Kearns Goodwin happens to be one of my favorite historians. Most will recognize her name from the epic Team of Rivals wherein she discusses Lincoln’s presidency and the historical giants with whom he surrounded himself as cabinet members. Though this remains one of my favorite reads, she has a more recent piece that I think all of us should pick up – Leadership in Turbulent Times. In it, Goodwin traces certain commonalities between 4 US Presidents: Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR and Lyndon Johnson.
As I’ve gone through the book, it’s been difficult not to make comparisons to current leaders across the country. Frankly, it’s more than a bit unfair to judge ANYONE against the measuring stick of a Lincoln or an FDR. After all, these are figures who’ve taken on an almost mythic quality in our collective memory. However, Goodwin brings these heroes down to earth by sharing more about the traumatic, transformative experiences that helped them prepare for the later moments of crisis they respectively navigated during their presidencies.
Now, all I want for Christmas is for someone to do the exhaustive version of this study on every governor across the United States trying to operate in the world of COVID-19. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to look back through the records of their lives to divine the experiences that have formed their individual paradigms for problem solving?
We’ve clearly seen the many varied approaches. Yet, regardless of the responses they’ve chosen within their states, one thing is clear: no one is clearly “winning.” I’m not saying that they aren’t having success in slowing the spread of COVID, nor am I saying that they haven’t advanced other agenda items. What I’m talking about is public perception.
We see ongoing ebbs and flows in the public commentary on responses to the pandemic. In a given week, one’s governor may be lauded as decisive and tough on a Monday and eviscerated as weak-willed and controlled by special interests on Friday. What an absolute nightmare for your communications and political team.
But those who attain these highest levels of leadership are rarely swayed by opinion polling – and regardless of how they’ve performed compared to others, I think we should take a moment to appreciate the special challenge of leading right now.
Each day, these highly functioning executives are facing state budgets that are simply…evaporating…due to strains on revenue and expenditures alike. They are forced to confront stern opposition from all sides and across all mediums. Their teams are taxed to the breaking point, likely having lost all sense of work-life balance in the past 8 months. And still, each day, these governors are stepping forward to react to an ongoing crisis in the social setting of a unique state, honoring the perspectives of its citizens, while making decisions that are far from black & white.
We owe something very specific to those in elected office right now: respectful, solutions oriented discourse.
Within our own personal lives, or for the organizations we represent both formally and informally, we contribute best now by acting in good faith and working toward solutions. We will not always advance our agenda, but we have an opportunity to elevate the discourse. I plan on doing just that.
In the coming weeks, the regular Thursday posts on this blog will focus on political action plans.. Some posts will focus on just what we can continue to refine in the reality presented by the ongoing COVID crisis. But most of the content will be more evergreen and applicable both mid and post-COVID. I hope you’ll continue to join me here each week to explore those topics.
In the meantime, I’m going to work on delivering a new page for this site. I’ve heard from several folks who are interested in a reading list of sorts. I’ve had requests for book recommendations covering a broad range of topics. I don’t know, quite yet, what that list will look like in final form, but stay tuned! If you’re not already, now would be a great time to join my email list which you can find on the home page of this blog. The folks on that list will get the first look at new content like the reading list and other new content experiments coming your way in the new year.
I’m so grateful you continue to be a part of this community. Things seem to be headed toward a tough winter, and communities like this will be an outlet for many of us. So I hope you’ll send me your thoughts, comment on the site, or contact me on social media. We’ve got a lot to talk about.
In the meantime, take a moment to allow yourself to be grateful for those serving in public office, as well as their staffs. Even without a global pandemic, public service is difficult and takes an incredible toll. Right now, during a crisis and in the wake of a contentious election, these officials know they can’t “win” politically, but they can serve. By taking just a moment to appreciate that, we can reset and better prepare to move forward together.
Part of the Possible 