Combating Polarization with Courageous Leadership—with Deke Copenhaver - EP3
87% of Americans are tired of the extreme polarization in our country.
But when politicians lie and incite fear to get elected or stay in power, we give them a pass because ‘it’s just politics.’
So, what can we do as leaders to combat polarization? How do we lead by example, demonstrating the courage and character it takes to understand why someone thinks differently and find common ground?
Deke Copenhaver is the Leadership Coach and Keynote Speaker behind Copenhaver Consulting, LLC, and Bestselling Author of The Changemaker: The Art of Building Better Leaders.
Deke served as Mayor of Augusta, Georgia from 2005 through 2014, and today, he is leading the movement to combat extreme polarization through the organization Starts With Us.
On this episode of Leading Visionaries, Deke joins Anjel to explain how he got the calling for public service and walk us through his process for communicating his vision for the City of Augusta.
Deke discusses the boundaries he set during his tenure as mayor, describing how he prioritized his family, his faith and his integrity over politics.
Listen in to understand how Starts With Us challenges individuals to find common ground and learn how to lead in a way that promotes curiosity, compassion and the courage to have difficult conversations.
What You Will Learn
How Deke got the calling for public service and his tenure as mayor of Augusta, Georgia
Deke’s process of communicating his vision for Augusta and enrolling others to make it happen
Why the only power good leaders should concern themselves with is the power to inspire
How Deke prioritized his family and their needs above his mayoral campaign
The boundaries Deke set to remain true to his faith and maintain his character while in office
Deke’s transition from politics to consulting and leadership coaching and who his business serves
Why Deke joined the Starts With Us movement to combat extreme polarization
How Starts With Us challenges individuals to treat each other with curiosity and compassion
The courage it takes to have difficult conversations and why it’s becoming a lost art
How understanding why someone thinks differently helps us establish common ground
Connect with Deke Copenhaver
Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell
Join the Leading Visionaries Community
Make a Donation to Support the Show
Resources
The Changemaker: The Art of Building Better Leaders by Deke Copenhaver
‘The News Media Is Killing Itself Through Extreme Polarization’ in Forbes