The Main Ingredient for Success: Leadership

What many DECs lack today is good, strong, and consistent leadership. Too often but certainly not always, officers are elected and are "just passing through", not willing or unsure of how to change the system.

Unfortunately, there is no "process" on how to grow leaders in a place where there consistently has been no leadership. You need some outside help initially. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to invest in some form of leadership/campaign training for its members.

Over time, as the party's precinct organization and community outreach efforts grow (more on these subjects in other posts), and with the party consistently training it precinct captains and interested party activists, leaders will undoubtedly emerge to not only be officers, but committee chairs, staffers, and leaders of specific efforts and initiatives.

In my limited experience, here's what I've found to be traits in good leaders, especially within DECs:
- Takes initiative, if they have a good idea, they run with it and don't stop until it is implemented or until they are absolutely convinced that the idea won't work.
- Has a lot of drive, they dig their heels in and they get to work.
- Is an innovator, they are always thinking of new ways to change the party for the better or alter current procedures or processes to keep the DEC moving along efficiently.
- Is willing to listen to others, rather than just espouse their view and disregard others' opinions.
- Is always kind to others, yet is tough when needed.

Yes, I know that it is practically impossible for one person to embody all of these traits. However, this is why our DECs must depend on groups of leaders, rather than just a single lone power. This, I believe is a common mistake in current DECs. They rely on a single person to lead everything, and then when that person leaves, things just fall apart. With groups of leaders, however, if one has to leave, there are still a group of people there who can continue to carry the party forward.

One thing is certain: a DEC cannot do very much and certainly can't even come close to being a factor in elections, if the DEC does not have a group of leaders leading.