Leading when Compromise is Crucial

With more than 30 years in Ohio public office and charitable and civic involvement, Betty Montgomery believes it’s the responsibility of public sector leaders to listen to and learn from the people you’re working with and the people impacted by your decisions. For leaders, she says, compromise is key, keeping in mind that you need to measure yourself against your own values, play the long game to reach your ultimate mission, and realize that sometimes you have to say no. You’re never going to be able to get 100% of what you want, she says, because you’re not always 100% right. The board chair of the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, Montgomery advises women to break down barriers by finding their voice; leading in their communities, churches and schools; and then taking that leadership and experience and stepping into the public arena.