Defining Strong Leadership
Four C’s of Strong Leadership
How do we define strong leadership?
The Best of Tennessee has identified four key traits of strong leadership:
Character
Courage
Communication
Collaboration
Why these four characteristics?
We believe one way to restore government efficiency is to elect candidates who embrace leadership traits that directly combat the systemic and cultural challenges that impede our government’s ability to function. Lawmakers who possess these traits are inherently more capable of generating thoughtful solutions than those who do not, regardless of their party affiliation.
Character
Each elected representative has the extraordinary responsibility of acting on behalf of their communities. Judgment is crucial. Once they assume office, they are afforded a level of respect that must be constantly earned through continued displays of honesty, trustworthiness, and stability. Without strong character, officials may get lost in a struggle for power and act inconsistently with their duty to the voters who elected them, thereby eroding public trust in their institutions.
Courage
Standing up for one’s position on an issue is important, however true courage also requires the humility to examine one’s own views, listen to others’ perspectives, and admit when one is wrong. This type of courage is the key to finding common ground instead of simply shutting down or digging in. It is instrumental in governing a diverse citizenry with constantly competing interests.
Communication
The free flow of ideas is necessary for elected officials to not only understand the needs of their constituents, but also to communicate those needs to their colleagues in such a way that supports meaningful dialogue and opportunities for alignment. Without the ability to communicate, information necessary for thoughtful and effective legislation is lost. Importantly, communication is not only the act of speaking, it also involves the ability to listen, absorb and ask questions in ways that further a conversation rather than end it.
Collaboration
We live in a world with complicated problems. To solve these problems, lawmakers must find a way to work together, not only to make sense of things, but also to find efficient solutions. The simple act of functioning as part of a team oftentimes generates the spirit of engagement necessary to overcome the entrenched ideology of party politics. Finding a way to “yes” instead of simply screaming “no” is what’s required to move the ball forward. Collaboration is the act of passing the ball to move it down the court.
