In these newsletters, I’ve focused on principles that can guide leaders, tools they can use, and behaviors they exhibit. I’ve stressed that a leaders’ purpose is to change the order of things for the better – which means change must be real and sustainable. Having operated in business, government/politics and the not-for-profit world, I know that while the context is different, the challenges, principles and purpose of leadership are always the same.
In the halls of Congress, the debate over massive change has begun as the Biden Administration rolls out its plans to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, address climate change and invest in human capital by addressing education, healthcare and support for working families. I support these goals and polls show a majority of Americans do as well.
Realistically, we’ve been talking about these goals for decades and yet we haven’t made much progress or achieved lasting results. Johnson had the War on Poverty. Bush had No Child Left Behind. Obama had “shovel-ready projects.” There are too many examples of initiatives launched with inspiring words and great fanfare, legislation passed, and lots of money spent. Still, the festering problems remain and the partisan bickering continues.