Our View: Nurturing the leader within

Nestled within the biographies of most famous leaders is a family member who saw the leader in the child and encouraged the leader forth. At 16, Golda Meir, future prime minister of Israel, escaped the narrow expectations of her mother to live with an older sister who understood Meir’s greater dreams.

In her older age, Sara Delano Roosevelt boasted that she had only one child but he did very well indeed. The mother saw the leader in young Franklin and pushed him to use his gift.

Psychologist James Hillman, author of “The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling,” believes that some people are born with the natural ability to lead others. Their confidence, an essential characteristic for all effective leaders, is there from the earliest days. But even in-born confidence can be shattered without proper external support. The best leaders trace their confidence to parents, extended family, teachers and community members who said, “You can do this.”

Candidates for office need confidence to withstand the rigors of campaigning. Confidence allows them to endure grueling campaign schedules, shake one more hand, digest one more piece of cold pizza. Confidence allows them to endure a lack of privacy. When candidates throw their hats into the ring, their previously private financial information gets thrown in, too. Some candidates see their private lives turned inside out for public consumption. Not always a confidence builder.

Once elected, leaders need confidence to outline visions that call for change and sacrifice. They need confidence to sacrifice personal gain for the greater good. They also sacrifice family time. This is why family support is essential.

Terry Novak, former Spokane city manager, teaches “The Political Executive Class” at Eastern Washington University. His students interview the spouses of elected leaders, asking them questions such as “What changes in lifestyle did you expect? Have your expectations been borne out?”

The biggest surprise for the students? How expensive political life can be for families. The family budget gets stretched during campaigns. Once in office, elected leaders often “get invited to each other’s $100-a-plate” fundraisers, Novak said. All part of the reciprocation game.

Ron Sims, King County executive, is featured in today’s second Leadership Dialogues. While growing up in Spokane, he had encouraging parents, mentoring teachers and caring adults who role-modeled leadership. You too can be a leader, they told him. Eventually he believed them and acted on the knowledge.

If a young person’s family does not instill future confidence, all is not lost. After-school activities, Scouts and volunteer work can call forth the leader hiding in the young person.

“Somebody’s got to be quarterback,” Novak pointed out. “Someone has to be the first-chair player.”

The purpose of this series is to encourage our best and brightest community members to use their gifts in public service.

In our community now, those people, younger and older, might just need a confidence boost. Someone to tell them: “You can do this,” because they can – and should.