Mayor Marty Walsh pens Medium post on his ‘humble approach’ to leadership
"I’ve taken heat by some who say I’m too nice of a guy. I’m told by many that I need to be more heavy handed, and 'throw my weight around.'"
Marty Walsh says that he is “often” asked about his leadership style. So the Boston mayor wrote about it in a post Wednesday on Medium.
The post, which comes after the arrest of a member of his administration on a federal extortion charge, espouses “serving others and living for something bigger than yourself.”
“The person yelling at me at the start of a meeting might be showing me pictures of their grandkids by the end of it,” Walsh wrote. “I learned that politics can be tough but you have to remember everyone is human.”
According to Walsh, his approach to governing in City Hall has formed through years of experience in public service, from his time as a local labor union leader through his near-17 years as a Massachusetts state representative to his current first term as mayor.
“Building bridges is the key to deep and lasting change,” he added.
Walsh said his “bromance” with Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker “shouldn’t be such a big deal” because the voters elected them both, regardless of party, to get things done.
If there’s one way I could sum up these lessons, it’s to say that the City of Boston is about more than me. I’ve taken heat by some who say I’m too nice of a guy. I’m told by many that I need to be more heavy handed, and “throw my weight around.” Or, “You’re the Mayor, people should do what you say.”
It’s not that I don’t want to see things get done quickly. I do. I just mean it’s not up to me to demand the city look like some picture I have in my head. My job is to empower everyone to plan and build our city together.
Read the full post here on Medium.
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