Now that all of the votes have been tallied and the election results are called, I’m watching campaign signs slowly disappear and social media thank yous filling my news feed. The midterms have consumed many of us involved in civic leadership and certainly those who are deeply concerned or directly impacted by issues like homelessness, healthcare, and inflation. And if you have proximity to the pain, you’re likely paying close attention.
For those that have been successfully elected, including several of our own Senior Fellows (congratulations!), this is certainly a moment to take a quick victory lap; and then, the real work of relationship building and governance begins. To those of you who had the courage to throw your hat in the ring and didn’t get the results you wanted: Thank you. We’re grateful for your commitment to community.
And, of course, elections impact us all—those running, their teams, and constituents. How can we all learn from and create real change to dog whistle messages and divisive tactics? Whether your preferred candidate won or lost, will you choose to help bring people together across divisions for the common good? Will you support and challenge elected officials to focus on community priorities instead of political distractions? This outcome here is on all of us.
“The Fellows Program is built for taking those risks once we commit to a circle of trust with each other; however, employing these strategies outside of the safety of the ALF circle in the real world is where the rubber meets the road.”
In ALF, we learn and use practices that encourage empathetic and compassionate leadership. Active listening. Suspending judgment and being mindful in our words and deeds. To seek to understand and avoid making assumptions. To bring diverse voices and stakeholders to the table, including those we disagree with, in an effort to understand complex problems and emerge real solutions.
We have watched leaders deeply explore these principles in a Fellows class environment and with genuine curiosity. The Fellows Program is built for taking those risks once we commit to a circle of trust with each other; however, employing these strategies outside of the safety of the ALF circle in the real world is where the rubber meets the road. A core reason ALF exists is to break down barriers between silos so that we can solve real problems. No one sector, and certainly no one leader, is going to fix homelessness, healthcare, and inflation. We have to work collaboratively in bold and courageous ways.
So, how will our leaders lead? Post-campaign, our leaders have an opportunity to listen and lead with humility. And to make amends for the wounds they may have played a role in creating. Their success, and our community’s health, are incredibly dependent on their ability to work selflessly with others. To be upfront about being wrong at times and to be real. To walk the talk of inclusion and belonging as managers, co-workers, and decision-makers. To practice self-reflection and purpose driven leadership.
My sincere hope is that the new class of elected officials—and certainly those who are ALF Senior Fellows—will employ ALF values and principles as they navigate the challenges of governing. And may we do the same as constituents.
Suzanne St. John-Crane joined as CEO of American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley in March of 2016, having been through both Classic Class XXV and the inaugural Urbanism Class XXXIV. St. John-Crane has worked in community media for the last twenty-four years, having served as the founding executive director for two community television stations in the Bay Area, including CreaTV San Jose. St. John-Crane was named one of Silicon Valley’s 100 Women of Influence in 2012 by the Business Journal. She currently serves as the Interim Executive Director for ALF National.
