Changes That Make Things Better:

Lessons of Public Leadership*

Peter Hutchinson

 

  1. Take nothing for granted—what you can’t, won’t or don’t see will hurt you.
  2. Know a dog when you see one.  And don’t feed your dogs—if you do they will grow up and bite you.  Acknowledge your mistakes (poor decisions) as quickly as possible so you can move on.
  3. Think no small thoughts; take no big giant steps (take one or two small steps each day toward your goal and by the end of the year you will be amazed at your progress).
  4. When you are forced to fight, be sure you get to pick the game, the weapons, the turf and the rules—or at least as many as possible.
  5. In this world you get to choose what problems you want to live with, you don’t get to live with no problems.
  6. Know what you believe in and say so.  If you don’t know what you believe no one will believe you or believe in you.
  7. If they’re complaining and you’re explaining, you ain’t gaining!
  8. When it really matters, when opinion is divided and emotions run high, it doesn’t matter what you decide—‘cuz you’re wrong! (at least in the eyes of those who don’t like your decision).  Since you already know you will be attacked—you are free to do what you think is right.
  9. Listen to those around you because they will keep you from falling flat on your face.
  10. Be proud of the people you serve and let them know it (stay motivated to serve them with a caring attitude).
  11. Things don’t have to be perfect to be successful.  Progress, not perfection, should be the goal.
  12. When you’re in the dark, things look better than they really are.
  13. Like FDR, many leaders never have easy times to deal with.  These are the good old days.  Leaders make them the best possible.
  14. A leader is someone who goes out and changes things to make things better (as defined by a 4th grader).  If 4th graders already know that’s what leaders do, let’s get on with it!!!
  15. When leaders create real value for the people, the people will buy it (and pay for it).
  16. Sometimes the right thing for a leader to do is just to turn it over to others (just go home).  Prepare the way for those who will follow.  Leadership goes on even if leaders don’t.
  17. In any moment, in the face of any challenge, any thing is possible—but possibilities don’t make themselves happen, you have to.
  18. When you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.

 

 

*  See p. 307 of The Price of Government by David Osborne & Peter Hutchinson (2004)