Letter to the Editor: Why are people less interested in taking leadership positions in local government?

Leadership. Whether you feel it’s an art, a science or maybe a combination of both – either way, you’re right.

In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to hold various leadership roles and to learn countless “leadership styles,” strategies, approaches and so on. I’ve taken tests and gone through exercises to learn my “bird type” and every other iteration of personality self-awareness to better understand my motivations and the motivations of those I’ve led.

When it comes to education, it’s hard to throw a stone and not hit a self-help book, blog or personality ready to impart all the knowledge you’d ever want on their interpretation of “leadership.”

So why — in a world where we have more access to knowledge, resources and avenues to develop into a truly dynamic leader than ever before — do we see less and less engagement and interest from the “next-up” generations in taking on many of our community and local government leadership positions? Why do we have so many local seats run uncontested?

The hard truth is that we as a community and a society-at-large have failed. We have failed to uphold our part of the deal — to foster an environment where people want to lead.

Instead, we are now in the “gotcha era” where we scrutinize every syllable, attack individuals as if they weren’t actual human beings and presume every facet of government hides a sinister plot or corrupt individual.

It’s not hard to see how we’ve gotten here. History has proven that power, in any form, needs to be checked and balanced. Government, by the people and for the people, should be transparent, accessible and reflective of the constituency it serves. That means it’s your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers giving their time and effort to work toward a better community for all.

But what happens when those individuals decide it’s not worth it anymore? What happens when truly passionate, talented individuals who live, work and raise their families in this community decide it’s someone else’s problem to solve? Ask yourself honestly — why would anyone invite this scrutiny and lack of support? Why open your life, the lives of your family members and possibly your business and employees, for a community that is seemingly waiting for the first flub, misstep or genuine honest mistake to drag you through the mud?

We are lucky to have individuals who have stepped up, despite every reason listed why they were probably better off to avoid the hassle. But those folks will eventually tire of the attacks and find other places to invest their time – all while we complain about how the next generations are “lazy” or “don’t want to put in the effort.”

I’m not saying we don’t talk truth to power. Nor am I saying we should not hold our leaders accountable. It’s not about not speaking your mind or being engaged with local government.

It’s about remembering that these seats are all held by human beings, and most of them just want to see their community thrive. If we cannot support our developing leaders, allow them the grace to make mistakes and grow, then we don’t deserve dynamic leaders.

Trent Lyons
Quincy, Illinois