By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Mayor Ronnie and I met on Monday morning, July 15, just two days after the attempt on the life of Donald Trump. Clearly, we needed to talk about what had just happened, and we were both in a state of shock as well as gratitude that the president’s wounds were not any worse. The topic of wounds moved easily to the state of our nation and our culture, and we decided that it was time once again to do a book series.
We decided on leadership expert John Maxwell’s latest book, which is entitled, appropriately enough, High Road Leadership – Bringing People Together In A World That Divides. “It’s been a while since we have done a book, and this looks like it will be a good one,” said Mayor Ronnie. As we explored the samples, there were a few important things that seemed like a good kick-off for this series. The most important point of the introduction had to do with the discussion of skills vs. values. Here are a few of Maxwell’s thoughts:
What makes the difference between good and bad leaders? What causes the rise or fall of the leadership that impacts people? Skills and values. Leadership rises when leaders possess good leadership skills and good values. It falls when leaders’ skills or values are poor. It may be obvious that leaders who lack good schools are incapable of helping people. What’s less obvious is the impact on people when leaders don’t possess good values. If the values and skills are both lacking, leaders drag the people down with them.
Leadership can be a blessing or a curse. It can help people rise up to a better life, or it can cause people to fall into despair. Become part of the solution by becoming a high-road leader.
We read and listened to the unique and unmistakable voice of Mr. Maxwell, and resolved to continue to learn how to be our own best selves, as that is the only area where we have any real control.
Maxwell also made a point of illustrating the fact that it is so easy, whether you lead many, few, or just yourself, to accidentally focus on fixing rather than influencing. It is only by first becoming our very best selves and walk in our calling that we can change the world around us.
Mayor Ronnie looked at me and said, “Things don’t get changed up there (meaning Washington D.C.), things get changed right here.” I nodded and said, “The only thing we can do is be the change that we want to see.” We talked further about how much of a challenge it is to do just that; how daunting personal change can be even for the bravest of us. None the less, that is what we need to do if we are going to make a difference that actually makes a difference.
And then we did what we always we do; what we have done for over a decade—we prayed, and we prayed for a good while. And then, once again it was time for Ronnie to roll.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
December 20, 2024
