Giving Compass' Take:

• The Presidential Leadership Scholars Program implores young scholars to listen to others' viewpoints and work on problems in society by building coalitions that work together rather than create polarized environments. 

• Why is it important in this political climate to encourage young people to lead with flexibility and to be mindful of other people's experiences? 

• Bill and Melinda Gates released their annual letter in February, highlighting seven powerful leadership lessons that mirror what the Presidential Leadership Scholars program is trying to instill in young people now. 

Do you prioritize freedom or safety? What if I asked “do you prioritize lives or guns?” Each of these questions leads with and taps into our values. Depending on how the question is worded, your response is visceral as is your surety of the “right” answer. And what often follows is a polarizing debate filled with ugliness and hate. In essence, the conversation ends before it even begins. We retreat to lick our wounds, regroup with like-minded people, and throw up our hands that common ground is impossible.

This merry-go-round of emotion and reaction is fueled by our current approach to politics and media. And while it may be the stuff of entertainment, it is not the right environment for effective policy.

The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program seeks to build an improved environment by selecting a coalition of diverse leaders from different political, industry, and ethnic backgrounds who are committed to solving our world’s most pressing problems.

Society applauds leaders who hold fast to their values and beliefs despite challenge and opposition. But, as multiple leaders expressed during our first week of PLS, the issue with making sound policy is most often not about opposing values. Instead, it is about prioritizing multiple values within a constrained environment.

The premise of PLS is that if you are a leader committed to making the world a better place, you must be willing to listen to and learn from those with opposing viewpoints to create sustainable change. My experience to date has been powerful both professionally and personally, and most of the reason why is that I’m being forced to re-examine and question how my values and beliefs enhance and hinder my relationships.

Read the full article about Presidential Leadership Scholars from the PLS Program at Medium.