You Win with People

A few years ago, I was working for a member of Congress who decided to leave office before the end of his term. It was an absolutely wild experience. Just months earlier, it seemed he was on an entirely different trajectory. But on an autumn day he announced, without fanfare, that he would be leaving office. At the time, it rocked Ohio’s political scene.

Yesterday, I had the surreal experience of watching close friends go through a similar experience – and I don’t envy them.

In politics, you face a stark reality that you could be looking for a new job every election. It’s not for the faint of heart. There’s a certain chip you have to carry on your shoulder to stick with it. You have to be willing to run through walls, day after day, right alongside the elected official you serve. When US Senator Rob Portman announced he would not seek re-election yesterday, I immediately thought of the folks who have been doing just that for him over the past decade.

One of the clearest reflections of a successful politician is the group of staffers that surround them. At every level, that team of dedicated public servants (and over caffeinated campaign staff) makes the difference between relevance and being relegated to the back bench. At the US Senate level, you can’t accept mediocre, you have to build with the best.

Senator Portman has done just that. Legislative, state and campaign staff alike, you’d be hard pressed to find a team more dedicated to the people of Ohio. Whether you agree with his policy stances or not, if you’ve interacted with his office, you’ve probably walked away impressed by their accessibility and their comportment.

While I was thinking about these friends who, over the next two years, will begin transitioning to what’s next, I was reminded of my former boss’s parting speech at his final retirement party. With genuine gratitude, and an emotion laden trembling, he spoke to hundreds of supporters and said: “you win with people.”

He was quoting Woody Hayes which is always a crowd pleaser in Columbus. But he was also acknowledging that, while it was his name on the door, he knew we all took ownership of the office. We all wanted him to succeed because we believed in his just cause and were willing to run through those walls.

In two years, Team Portman will experience some similar moments. While we speculate on a replacement, they will have the dual charge to carry on the work and prepare to transition. In many ways, it may not seem to be really happening for some time. But in two very short years they’ll be saying goodbye to their own team.

Luckily, Senator Portman knows you win with people. He’s hired some of the most devoted staff in Ohio and Washington. Some names and faces have changed along the way, but they’ve all remained Team Portman. [And, if I’m allowing myself to be a bit forward, I’d say this: if you’re growing your team in the next two years, look for the Rob Portman seal of approval. You’re not likely to be let down.]

It will be a shame for that team to disband. But when they turn the key in the office door that final time, they’ll know they accomplished something special together. They won together.