I am proud to have Terry Simonson as the Guest for this blog. He is a great dispute resolution leader in Tulsa, in Oklahoma and in the United States.
When I directed the American Bar Association dispute resolution initiative, one of our innovative and successful programs was the Multi-Door Courthouse Program. We searched the nation for 3 successful mediation sites that showed great promise with their courts, their community and their bar association. Simonson’s Early Settlement Program came in first.
So, I am excited to sponsor this blog on Leadership which was published in the Tulsa World newspaper.
Forty years of leadership lessons
Leadership in public service is learned not inherited, and it is expected because you were elected, not promoted. After years of working for local government leaders, there are lessons that might be of help to those leaders yet to come.
"It's fine to say you have an open door policy but just be sure that door comes with a screen door."
Time will become your most precious commodity. You will never have enough of it, and you can't create more of it. Everyone wants "just 5 minutes." Create a validated and attentive process to refer and screen all of the demands on your time.
"You've been elected 'the' leader, now you have to learn how to be 'a' leader."
It's a job, and you have to learn it. You can only learn so much from what others did before you. There will be times when you have to learn what the problem is, lead others in the direction you want and solve problems all at the same time.
That's a difficult juggling act, but you get better at doing it over again.
"People want their government to have less red tape and more red carpet."
The government belongs to everyone. People want to be treated as those are treated who enter their house — being treated with respect, honesty, fairness, and learning to play well with others. Government is the people's house.
The lessons from elementary school were never more important.
"A society grows when old men plant trees whose shade they shall never sit."
With so many pressing problems of the day, it will be difficult to have and keep the visionary transformative view of the future. But always remember: If not us, who? If not now, when?
You can't just hand out apples, you have to plant orchards.
"There will be times when the truth doesn't matter."
There will be those who will challenge your integrity, but you must stand strong even if you are by yourself. Today, some have called the malicious attack on a person's emotional sanity "gaslighting" but don't be deterred. Don't let them dim your light.
The truth always matters.
"The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why."
For some, the answer to "why" still lies ahead for them. For others who are gifted, it comes early. But for most of us, the answer lies in the history of the life you have already lived.
Look back. What common thread has run through your life that tells you, "This is why I am here." We all have one life. Live it with purpose.
"It will be easy for people to confuse a trouble shooter with a troublemaker."
Once you enter into the fray of public opinion, those who oppose you will cast you as the reason for the problem. They will see you as the troublemaker even though you are working as hard as you can to be the problem solver.
Don't be discouraged or dismayed. There will be days when the only person you feel you can believe in is yourself.
"A cluttered desk is a sign of staff and leadership failure."
Clutter clouds thinking. As the leader, you have to focus on the key big issues, not every issue. Don't accept or request that everything lands on your desk.
Solving big issues requires concentration and contemplation. A clear desk is a clear mind.
"Sometimes while you are in office, a crisis will happen and it won't be your fault."
For all of the plans you have, a major crisis will happen that you did not cause, expect or see coming. It will blow up your plans.
Crisis management will never be more important. Be prepared for it before it happens.
Remember these quotes:
"When you enter public service, you become public property."
- Thomas Jefferson
"Just as it takes courage to stand up and talk, it takes just as much courage to sit down and listen."
- Winston Churchill.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strongman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs, who comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt.
Terry Simonson spent about 40 years in various public administrative positions and recently retired from the role of director of governmental relations. He is a former Tulsa World Community Advisory Board member.
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