The Agility of Leadership and the Sensibility of the middle

Firstly, this is an image of three generations and two families. There are very different characteristics, philosophies and abilities that differentiate them but they are all bound by something and bond and agree on at least one thing and arrange to continue to make things work for the greater good...

Today, November 3, 2025, marks the convergence of two crucial elements in our civic life: the persistent challenge of leadership and the urgency of the local election season. While headlines focus on major races, the real crucible of governance—where the metal is truly tested—is right here, in our own communities.

The decisions made by city councils, administrators, and local officials are a constant target for criticism, and rightly so. Decisions made by leadership often create division. For every initiative, no matter how simple or extreme—whether tearing down an old building, revamping a school system, or turning a wooded area into a community space—you will always find a far left and a far right position.

The Problem of the Extremes

Consider a simple proposal: converting a patch of woodland into a public park. The arguments quickly divide:

• The "Far Right": This might be a group passionate about a dog park, emphasizing happy families, lasting memories, and vital space for pets. Their positive outweighs all negatives.

• The "Far Left": This might be a group championing green spaces, arguing for a nature preserve, a heritage tour, or a community garden, and focusing on the mitigation of noise, mess, and potential danger. Their negatives outweigh all positives.

The problem, as we all know, is that the final decision rarely satisfies the loudest voices on either side. It requires the ability to find the sensible middle—the blend of "some of this makes sense" and "some of this doesn't."

The True Measure of Leadership Agility

The person who can successfully navigate this is a rare and vital type of leader. This job—governing a municipality or an organization—is incredibly challenging, and its success is truly predicated on one thing:

The agility to think about all people.

A leader who governs effectively must not just know the local issues, but must possess a deep, empathetic understanding of who their neighbors are, and why and how they think the way they do.

A leader who cannot see beyond the interests of their own base, who struggles to weigh the positives and negatives of an issue with a detached, civic mind, is a bad choice—for today and for tomorrow.

The Pitfalls of Vitriol and Uninformed Support

This is where we, as citizens, must take responsibility. We live in a world that is becoming increasingly vitriolic, where the political discourse often defaults to: "If you're not with me, you're against me, and if you're against me, you're my enemy."

I recently experienced this when a representative for a local candidate called me. I was familiar with the territory, the candidate, and their opponents. My question was simple: “Why should I consider taking any time to listen to your candidate as opposed to the others?”

The response was disappointingly poor. It was based on a personal relationship to the candidate, with no substantive discussion of policy, the opposition, or the critical issues facing the community—like the need for homeless shelters as winter approaches.

We have too many voice boxes and soapboxes telling people what to do instead of fostering an environment where we can discuss why we should do it. When a representative can't articulate a reasoned, policy-based argument, the entire political structure suffers.

Your Call to Action

Our republic was put together by forefathers who envisioned leaders capable of great foresight and nuance. If we want to maintain that vision, we need to demand that agility from those we elect.

This week, with local elections just days away, I encourage you to do more than simply cast a ballot.

1. Stop, turn around, and look around. What is it that you see? What do you think can genuinely be better right here, right now?

2. Demand a Policy-Based Discussion. If someone asks for your vote, ask them to tell you why. Ask them how they balance the far-right and far-left concerns. See if they possess the necessary agility.

3. Vote for the Sensible Center. Support the candidate who demonstrates a deep understanding of all stakeholders, and whose perspective is rooted in finding the middle ground.

Not everyone will be a mayor, a senator, or on the city council. But every single one of us has a voice, and a responsibility to make our votes about informed choice, not tribal alignment.

Let's make this an effective week by thinking more apolitical political in our approach.