What It Takes: Qualities of New Leaders for a New American Revolution

American Majority exists to identify and train leaders- we do this at the college level with our Campus Majority program, throughout the nation with our Activists Training, and on an on-going basis with our New Leaders Campaign Trainings. Very often I talk with individuals who don’t consider themselves to be leaders or are reluctant to step up to the next level. The times in which we live present a unique opportunity- I truly believe that we have the opportunity to shape a new American revolution if we have the courage to do so. We need strong leaders in each of our communities, running for local offices like county commission, helping others in the community become more engaged in local politics. So what makes a good leader?

1. Leaders look ahead. American Majority trains up today’s leaders through our campaign trainings, but we also focus on tomorrow- the local leaders within the communities and colleges.  A “farm team” approach ensures that when one leader steps down or away from the battle, another will be on the bench, waiting and capable to step up.  This same philosophy would serve one well as a group leader or even as an elected official- are you looking towards the future to where you want your organization to be?  Are you preparing for the long-term as well as the here and now?  Noah Webster created the first dictionary to ensure that future generations would know their country’s heritage- “As soon as [a child] opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country.”

2. Leaders inspire. They look ahead to the future and then translate that into a vision that inspires and motivates others.  Not everyone will be the leader whose words mobilize the masses, but all of us can be leaders who feed the “better angels of our nature.”  Being passionate about the difference that we can make will help to inspire others in your group, and keep them engaged even when the occasional disappointment comes our way.  I often tell people in trainings that when I first sat down to hear about American Majority, Ned Ryun painted a vision of what our nation could look like if we were successful- and that vision was appealing to me because I saw how it could affect my own life: the private practice my parents built, the life of my little brother who wears the uniform of the United States Navy, the home my husband and I want someday to own, the future children we want to raise on safe streets, in solid schools and in a nation that is free.

3. Leaders strategize. Washington had a battle plan when he went to war; soon after the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they had pamphlets printed and distributed, understanding that they must persuade the minds of the people before any revolution could be fought or won.  I’ve noticed leaders of groups around the nation strategizing this year- not just the “heads” of the groups, but the individual leaders as well, forming Constitution study classes, targeting their own precincts, putting together legislative task forces within their groups.  You can’t get to your destination if you don’t know what it is, and a good strategy is the map that allows you to get there.

4. Leaders focus. It’s easy to become distracted by the many things that pull at us, or to allow the urgent to repeatedly crowd out the important.  Good leaders focus on what is important and put their efforts there first.  I once trained a woman who told me that she didn’t have time to be involved in everything, so she was only going to be involved in voter registration.  Important?  Absolutely.  In the time since I first met her at an activist training, I’ve watched as she repeatedly set aside the urgent to focus on the important, and it’s reaping results.

5. Leaders engage. They don’t use coercion or manipulation to get their way, rather they persuade others in their group or influence of the merits their proposal or idea has.  My grandmother’s favorite phrase is “A mind changed against its will is of the same opinion still”- good leaders understand the importance of engaging their members and opponents in a battle for the heart and mind, knowing that once someone comes around to their perspective voluntarily, their involvement will be stronger.

6. Leaders are real people. Rather than sitting on their high horse, they do the little things too.  They work shoulder-to-shoulder with the others in their group.  Many people have come to us after trainings to share stories of how someone set out to be a leader in their group and wanted to be above them all.  A good leader engages in the small things as well as the glamorous, and considers themselves no better than the others in the group.  The official eulogy of George Washington described him as being “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life.”

7. Leaders lead. When decisions must be made, they make them- and often in the face of threat or fear.  During the Revolution when Captain John Parker spotted British troops coming near, he told his militia at Lexington: “Don’t fire unless fired upon. But if they want a war, let it begin here.”  The ability to make a decision when others falter and question is very often what distinguishes a leader from a follower.

8. Leaders do the right thing. All of us at some point reach a fork where we could do the right thing, which is rarely easy, or we could do the wrong thing, which is rarely hard.  Leaders don’t take the short cuts and keep their actions above-the-board.  I don’t know about you, but this particular characteristic makes me think that while we have many elected officials, we have very few leaders.

9. Leaders listen. Every few months, we in the American Majority staff receive books to read and the most recent one was “The Starfish and The Spider.”  This was a fascinating book that examined the differences between early tribes and modern organizations which were hierarchical and those which were “leaderless.”  I started out reading the book with skepticism as I am a classic type-A personality who craves structure and order.  But my mind was changed as I began to understand the importance of this lesson: cut off the head of a spider and it will die.  But if you cut off a starfish’s leg, it grows a new one, and that leg alone can grow a completely new starfish.  The greatest power a leader has is in cultivating within its group the individual members’ leadership abilities.

Why only 9 qualities of leadership?  Because I know the quality of people we train and I’m guessing that each individual who reads this could add their own Number 10 quality of leadership. Because they’re leaders.

If you believe that your state and local governments need new leaders, join our New Leaders Project and help us create a network of new conservative leadership for our country.