Setting an example

At the Utah Association of Special Districts, we take our responsibility to our local and special service member districts and to the people they serve very seriously. It’s true of the districts, too, where men and women work in public service because they believe they can make a difference in their constituents’ lives.

It’s an interesting path we follow and one that leads us now to the state capitol in Salt Lake City for the Utah State Legislature General Session. There, we’ll monitor pending legislation and speak up on behalf of our members when bills on the table affect their ability to fulfill our duties. And whether we support the legislation or hope we can get its backers to see our point of view, we act with honest and integrity and respect.

You can find it all in our Code of Ethical Conduct, but that’s not the only reason why we take that road. It’s important for us to lead by example, setting the course for all we meet. It’s not only true for those of us in public service; it’s something we can exhibit in every walk of our lives. You never know who’s watching… it could very well be someone who down the road will hold our future in their hands.

Here are a few ways you, too, can shine:

• Strike “Do as I say and not as I do” from your vocabulary. That attitude will show you soon what carries more sway in the long run. Instead, always strive to take the high road. And when you slip – it’s bound to happen now and again – apologize and share what would have been the better course of action. Walking the talk, even when things don’t go as planned, delivers a powerful message.

• Truly listen. Too often, instead of listening, we wait to reply. Or we finish the dishes, check out our Facebook page and shoot off a quick text while someone’s talking to us. What does this tell the other person? Their opinion isn’t important and you don’t respect them enough to hear them out. Good luck when, down the road, you really hope they’ll listen to what you have to say.

• Stress the importance of involvement, by example as well as words. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I learn. Involve me and I remember.” Great things happen when we become involved, as we are when the Utah State Legislature General Session is in order. Consider, too, how those in our local and special service districts are involved in their communities. Where can you jump in and teach by example? It’s well worth the effort.