In a world of bots, be a HUMAN - it’s key to your coalition’s success
As we’re highlighting through this series, public health is, at its core, a people business.
So, naturally, one key piece of advice for health coalition leaders to keep in mind: Be a human.
In an era of artificial intelligence and soulless corporations, there’s something to be said for simply being human.
And even for those of us who are devoted to transforming health and well-being in our communities, it’s easy to lose sight of the ways in which being human makes our work stronger.
So we’re going to shine a light on a few of those ways. Here’s how you can lead with your humanity:
1. Lead with YOUR story.
Don’t just embrace your humanity, lead with it. Get personal.
We love Marshall Ganz’s Public Narrative framework (ever since I first learned this from him in a grad school class, it completely reshaped the way I approach storytelling).
Instead of a dry bio, frame your communication through three lenses:
The Story of Self: Why are you called to this work? What specific experiences shaped your values?
The Story of Us: What shared values and experiences connect your coalition members? Your community members?
The Story of Now: What is the urgent challenge we face, and what is the specific path forward?
2. Embrace JOY.
Yes, things are heavy in the world and in our country right now. Yes, public health has been attacked right and left. And yet - we cannot forget the human desire for JOY.
If your coalition meetings feel like a chore, people will eventually stop showing up. Find ways to infuse delight into the process - a funny icebreaker, a celebration of small wins, space for connection. If people are having fun, they’ll stay in the fight - and so will you.
3. APOLOGIZE.
We are human. We’re going to make mistakes. In a professional world that sees admitting fault as a liability, be the person who owns it.
When you make a mistake, acknowledge it. Apologize. Rewind and/or repair. When you fail to acknowledge a mistake, you lose credibility. When you own it and take action to make things better, you gain trust.
4. Prioritize COMMUNITY.
“Community is the medicine.” Every single line of this convocation speech Lily Singh gave is so on point. She says: “Everything is better when it happens alongside people you love. Though the world is trying to convince you otherwise, we are all wired for togetherness…Human connection is the entire point.”
Ok, take a look back at that list. Can AI meaningfully do these things? Can a soulless corporation?
I don't think so.
So don’t shy away from being YOU - flawed, excitable, vulnerable, real, HUMAN.
Transforming community health is a people business. The only way to succeed is to be human.
What do you think? How are you bringing your human self to your coalition meetings this week?
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Sometimes it helps to just say the challenges out loud. If you're looking for a fresh perspective on what’s next for your health coalition, you can find my calendar here.
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