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One of my favorite post-election analyses comes from former Reagan speechwriter/current Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, who in her Saturday column called for a return to a political tradition of candidates having a certain, oh, I don’t know, a certain depth of experience and character. That isn’t to say I have to agree with their politics. But some level of maturity and life experience would be nice.
Sarah Palin, an exemplar of the other kind of politician increasingly common in today’s sorry landscape, once again showed her inch-deep grasp of American politics and history in invoking Ronald Reagan as an example of how a limited resume can still lead to great things. She characterized the former president as that actor who appeared in “Bedtime for Bonzo, Bozo, something?”
Noonan was quick to characterize Palin as a nincompoop and educate her on Reagan’s bona fides beyond acting, as president of the Screen Actors Guild for seven terms and as a two-term governor of California. In other words, he had established himself as a leader—not simply a celebrity—prior to running for president.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m no fan of Reagan or his politics. My own political perspective leans more toward a pox on both your parties. But whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, I hope most of us can get behind the sentiment Noonan expressed:
You have to earn your way into politics. You should go have a life, build a string of accomplishments, then enter public service. And you need actual talent: You have to be able to bring people in and along. You can’t just bully them, you can’t just assert and taunt, you have to be able to persuade.
Noonan’s assertion, which I hope to God is true, is that Americans don’t want as their elected representatives “people who seem empty or crazy.” For example, those tea party candidates who weren’t successful last week. Or a certain former vice presidential candidate.
What’s the takeaway for nonprofits? Yes, our messages are important. But so are the credibility and accomplishments of the messenger. They really do go hand in hand.
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I like to remind my clients and employers that “they know you by what you do.” All the communicating in the world won’t work if you don’t have a record of accomplishment and a relationship with your customers, clients and/or stakeholders.
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