Leadership and Change

In this society of instant information and multi-tasking, who has the time to take an evening off and devote it to one purpose that does not directly affect and forward the world of ‘me?’ It seems that our neighborhoods and our country is desperately seeking leadership and change. Although I was pleased to find my pre-caucus perspective overly-cynical, I witnessed only a small number of ‘younger’ individuals in attendance (thirties and under).

As noted by many of my fellow classmates, this was my first caucus (DFL). I enjoyed the resolution proposal process. In offering resolutions, individuals are enabled to voice a problem and find out if an issue holds resonance within the group. As stated in the Crosby/Bryson reading, this process seems to embrace an opportunity for an individual at a ‘grassroots level’ to envision and tap into new regime of mutual gain. Granted, a passed resolution on it’s own will not change the world, but the process offers a starting point for gaining momentum and appeal with a potential growing audience.

Individuals who offered resolutions with passion and broad perspectives found a greater approval ratio in the caucus group. Individuals who expressed resolutions without visible passion and limited perspective received a ‘cooler’ response. When resolutions were questioned, the presenters who actually addressed questions head-on, without hedging or reiterating, gained the most ground in the group. Of course, it could be that passion and perspective have little to do with finding common ground in a group, but this was my observation of the dynamic.

(The precinct chair had been ‘in office’ for the past five years and claimed to want out. He was voted in again for a sixth year. The precinct chair showed friendliness, but minimal leadership skills. The group led process and protocol.)