63 Magazine - Issue 4

Traits
The best organizers are strong leaders. The
best leaders are strong organizers.
No one exemplifies this more
clearly than Hillary Clinton.
As Hillary Clinton continues to lead her
campaign with dignity, urgency, and
determination despite the circus around
her, it becomes more and more evident
how fit she is to serve as president.
Throughout her entire career, she has
demonstrated her ability to lead others
with compassion and commitment.
The leadership skills she employs so
gracefully are the very skills organizers gain
while working with volunteers. These skills
transform an organizer from someone who
mobilizes people to someone who creates
lasting and impactful change through
empowerment and relationship building.
Let’s look at the ways Hillary embodies
leadership to see how you can use these
same traits to be a better organizer.
A leader is committed to the work.
“Hillary is a great leader because she has
spent her entire life fighting for kids and
families. I want someone in the White
House who wakes up every day wanting
to fight to make others’ lives better. And
that’s exactly the type of person, the type
of leader, she is.”
Leaders are made when they show up for
the work. Hillary has worked her whole
life for the causes and beliefs she cares
about. Just like her, organizers come to
work every day willing to do all sorts of
unpleasant tasks in the name of building
a community that takes action together.
The work you do as an organizer is far from
glamorous. (Despite what your
occasional pictures with celebrities
might suggest.) Your ability to stay
committed to the work, and to help
others do the same, makes you a leader.
“Hillary is a leader to me because she
never gives up and never loses sight of
who we’re all fighting for. I think a strong
leader is someone who brings people
together and keeps the whole team
focused on our common goal, and there’s
pretty much no one I can think of who
better embodies that spirit. I’m so proud
to work for her every day and I get excited
every time I think about how much she’ll
accomplish as president. She’s a workhorse
and just a tireless fighter and I can’t wait to
see what the next four years hold. (We just
have to get her elected first!)”
—Janice Rottenberg, organizing
director, Ohio Together
—Marlon Marshall, director of
state campaigns and political
engagement, Hillary for America