Stewardship, Standards, and Showing Up: Leading with Clarity and Connection
One thing I’ve learned—sometimes through tough lessons, sometimes through grace, always through growth—is this:
Clear is kind.
It’s a phrase that’s become more than just a saying in our organization. Our HR team has really leaned into it lately, and I love it. Not because it makes hard conversations easier—but because it makes them worth having.
In leadership—especially in public service—being clear is one of the kindest, most respectful things we can do. But it’s also one of the hardest.
It’s easy to let things slide when you don’t want to upset someone. It feels safer to be vague, to hope people just “get it,” or to kick the can down the road and deal with it later. But that doesn’t help anyone—not the person, not the team, not the community.
Avoiding clarity might feel nice in the moment, but in the long run, it keeps people stuck.
Recently, I had one of those hard conversations—one that had been a long time coming. It was with someone we work with under a contract. Over time, they had become a regular source of friction. Not in big, dramatic ways—just enough to stir up drama, create tension, and make the environment harder for others. It was like clockwork—small things that always landed just inside the line.
And the truth is, we all know that kind of person. Someone who seems to operate best when there’s a bit of chaos. Someone others start walking on eggshells around.
This person had gone through some incredibly hard things in their personal life. Truly tragic. And I believe those experiences likely shaped how they showed up professionally. But at some point, avoiding accountability out of fear or sympathy doesn’t serve anyone.
So I sat down and had the conversation that everyone else had been avoiding.
I was honest, respectful, direct, and calm. I said what needed to be said—not to tear her down, but because I genuinely believed it was the right thing to do for her and for our team.
She didn’t really respond. She didn’t push back. She didn’t deny any of it.
And while she wasn’t receptive, she heard it.
I have no idea what she’ll do with that conversation—but I know I did the right thing by showing up with clarity. Because when we’re honest, people get to make informed choices. When we dance around the truth, we rob them of that.
That same kind of clarity is something I have to lean into every day in my role. Because let’s be honest…
Everyone has an opinion.
Why are you asking for my tax dollars to fund something I’ll never use?
Why did membership rates increase?
Why is the Aquatics Center closed for maintenance again?
How do we balance budget, equity, and opportunity across all our programs?
I hear these kinds of questions all the time. And you know what? I welcome them.
People ask those things because they care. They’re invested. That passion means something—and I never want to lose sight of that.
But not every opinion comes through a phone call, an email, or a conversation.
Some come through social media posts, public threads, or half-baked comments online. And while I’ve learned not to take that stuff personally, I’ll be honest—it does concern me.
There’s a growing comfort in saying things on the internet that people would never say face to face. Posts are made without context, without kindness, and often without any intention of being helpful. Just… reactions.
Over time, that takes a toll. Not just on staff or leadership, but on the community as a whole.
It becomes easy to assume the worst. To stir up frustration without facts. To stay inside an echo chamber that only reflects back the loudest voices. And many people genuinely don’t realize they’re caught in that loop. It’s not necessarily their fault—it’s just become the default way of reacting.
But here’s what I know, without a doubt:
Despite all of that, the work we do matters. It makes a difference.
I see it every day. I see it in the families spending time together at the Rec Center. I see it in seniors staying active, kids learning new skills, neighbors connecting. We are thoughtful, intentional stewards of the resources we’ve been trusted with. And I’m so proud of our team.
They care deeply. They work hard. They problem-solve in ways most people never even see. They show up for our community with heart, consistency, and professionalism—even when it’s not easy.
Clarity helps them do that.
Clarity says, “Here’s why we made that decision.”
Clarity says, “Here’s what’s working and what’s not.”
Clarity says, “We’re open to conversation, not just commentary.”
So here’s my ask:
Be brave enough to be clear.
If you’re in a leadership role, don’t avoid the uncomfortable conversations. Be honest. Be kind. But be real.
And if you’re a member of the community—someone who loves this city and cares about how it operates—talk to us. We want to hear from you. Not just through comments and posts, but through real conversation.
Because when we lead with clarity, we build trust.
When we assume the best, we make space for solutions.
And when we stay connected, we all get better.
Let’s lead with courage. Let’s show up with clarity. Let’s move forward together.
Because clear is kind.
