by Written by Carl Oscar Sherman
In today’s political and public service environment, it’s simple to get caught up in headlines, statistics, and policies. Leadership demonstrated in calm, caring moments is more difficult to find but considerably more effective. I think it’s worth sharing with a larger audience what I recently experienced during a casual coffee discussion with Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert.
We got together at a neighborhood coffee shop to talk about leadership, city issues, and our communities’ futures. I already had a great deal of regard for Ms. Tolbert’s diligence and professionalism. However, her actions that morning were more noteworthy than her words.
One of the homeless men entered the store while we were sitting inside. In that situation, a lot of individuals could have turned away or hoped someone else would step in. However, City Manager Tolbert remained unflinching. She asked him about his circumstances, spoke to him with dignity, and gave him a warm greeting.
She then called the Dallas C.A.R.E., taking things a step further.
Team is a city entity created specifically to address these types of human needs. The team showed up like first responders and started talking to the man within five or seven minutes. They provided him with more than just a short-term fix; they discussed housing options, employment prospects, and even potential locations for him to apply in Dallas. Additionally, they put him in touch with vital resources like Metrocare, which offers social and mental health assistance.
It wasn’t a picture moment. Press releases and cameras were absent. It was just quiet, present, and successful leadership at its most basic level.
I’ve witnessed leadership in a variety of contexts as a former State Representative, Mayor, and City Manager. I’ve also witnessed the occasionally observed disconnect between public service and public office. I was reminded by what I saw in that coffee shop of the kind of leadership our cities require—one that is not only smart and visionary, but also present and caring.
Moments like these help people regain faith in institutions at a time when a lot of their trust has been eroded. They serve as a reminder that serving the public interest involves more than merely enacting laws and managing spending plans. It’s about noticing people, reacting quickly, and utilizing the government’s entire reach to help individuals who are far too frequently overlooked.
Kim Tolbert demonstrated compassion by modeling it, not just by talking about it. Her promptness and sincere care demonstrate the kind of leadership Dallas and other American communities need more of.
It was what I saw that morning that humbled and inspired me. And in my opinion, tales like this ought to be shared to encourage a culture in which all leaders lead from the heart rather than to exalt a single individual.
As a reminder, not all the most significant leadership actions take place at a podium. They occasionally take place over coffee.
In addition to being a former city manager and mayor of DeSoto, Texas, Carl Sherman was a member of the Texas State Representative for three terms in District 109. He has been a lifelong supporter of people-centered leadership and serves as pastor and principal manager of The Carl Sherman Group, LLC.
