Lesson 8: Seek Broad-Based, Informed And Dedicated Leadership

"People are often afraid of change, any change," says Faye Oines, member of the Howard city council since 2004. No matter how much room there is for improvement, she observes, people grow comfortable with things as they are and worry when they sense change.

The only antidote for that kind of fear is sound information—and the best source is from a broad base of leaders who have worked to inform themselves fully. Sometimes community leaders, after learning all they can, have to overcome fears of their own and put their knowledge to work in new leadership roles. That's what Faye did at age 49, when she ran for public office for the first time after volunteering in MCCR's revitalization effort. Encouraged by Miner County 's potential and motivated to help move it forward, she won the election and took a seat on the council.

"I had thought of myself as an average person who would never be an elected leader," she recalls. As for personal worries she had to overcome, she says, "conflict is hard for me. And almost everyone who gets elected worries about making decisions that turn out wrong, or just being criticized. City government is a process where you learn as you go, and that intimidates some people, too."

A big part of being a dedicated leader, she believes, is keeping focused on opportunities. That can be hard when other types of issues clutter the agenda. "For our city council," she says, "the big issue people come to us with is dogs. Without a sense of purpose and dedication to something bigger, we could spend most of our time dealing with matters like that."

She further defines dedicated leaders as those "willing to work in their official capacity and in any other way they can to improve the community overall, and to get other people involved."

Miner County Lessons

Lesson 8: Seek Broad-Based, Informed And Dedicated Leadership