Now the rain slowly washed the blood from our streets and the last of the fires have been put out, carefully the people get out in public again. Amongst them go hope and doubt, arms crossed, friendly nodding in recognition at expectations that cross their path. 

A post-war climate is a breath of fresh air for some, while the next experiences the uncertainty of lost foundations. Whether whispers about inadequacy, questions about housing or hints at opportunities; fact is we are in a time of both huge challenge and potential.

Our leaders naturally play a role of great importance, but it is good to have clear expectations about them. Within our society it’s easy to perceive a crewleader as an image of success, the position a reward for efforts displayed. But that creates dangerous value around the role. It can become a goal to become a crewleader or to remain one. In reality crewleaders are merely tools, they have a purpose, but are never the objective themselves.

In this time it’s clear that the purpose of our leaders is to provide housing and restore stability on our streets. The collaboration between leaders and others in the community will be obvious, natural. But once stability is restored the common goal becomes blurred and without shared purpose relations can become thin, breakable. At that point maintaining the emerging status quo is the biggest danger to what it aims to do.

Leading means giving direction, bringing the collective closer to a destination that is beneficial to them. For that, leaders should constantly be on the lookout for the next objective to chase down. This post-war momentum is a fantastic opportunity to witness the power of cross-city collaboration when we are all focused on those objectives. We experience how we all benefit from the greater good.

Two days ago we needed housing. Efforts on that topic are now well under way, obviously giving clear objectives for leaders to bring prosperity to their respective members. But what lies beyond that; what should be the next target on our horizon that serves the many?

For me that is an intriguing question as I kickstart my career in Seattle.
I look forward to finding out the answer in the coming time, together, with all of you.