Community Trainer | Paula Jensen
Paula Jensen
In small rural communities, leadership is important. But are we unintentionally shrinking our leadership pool?
We care more about who leads. We trust the people who come, come in, and carry history with them. But over time, we’ve gotten quieter thoughts about who it is you deserve it as a leader, and those ideas may be holding us back more than we realize.
We think that leaders should be more focused on the community: born here, raised here, or long-term residents. We think they need years of experience before they are “good,” they should always be available, and they should be knowledgeable about budgets, bylaws, and public meetings. We think that stepping into leadership means sacrificing privacy, family time, or relationships.
If you ever thought, “That’s not for me,” you are not alone.
But here’s the truth: true leadership isn’t about perfection – it’s about presence. Rural communities are not made up of perfect people. They are made up of people who care enough to show up and are willing to learn as they go.
Leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about asking good questions. It’s about listening well. It’s about loving your community enough to help manage its future. Experience helps – absolutely – but commitment, curiosity, and courage are most important.
When we expand our understanding of what leadership looks like, something powerful happens. New voices appear. Younger citizens are moving forward. Newcomers bring new energy. Longtime community members share wisdom in new ways. Leadership is less about who always does it, and less about who does it you are determined self recognition
Think of a neighbor who quietly organizes food in the freezer after a disaster. Or the parent who always comes in the morning to set up chairs in the school system. These are the natural traits of leaders, even if those people don’t use the word “leader” to describe themselves.
When we actively and purposefully welcome people— before they have to prove themselves – many potential leaders are beginning to see their legitimacy. When we practice learning on the job and make room for respectful disagreement, leadership feels less dangerous and possible.
If you care about the future of your city, you are closer to leadership than you think.
Leadership is not about perfection, fame, or eternity. It’s about presence. And our rural communities need more people willing to be there.
Here are three low-risk steps you can take to lead your community:
- Serve on a committee or advisory board. Event planning committees, housing groups, library boards, parks and recreation boards, and economic development task forces are all good intersections.
- Learn how local government really works. Sit in on a city council, school board, township, or county commission meeting. There is no pressure. Just listen.
- Map your transferable skills. Have you managed a budget? Organized volunteers? Resolved the conflict? Do business? Foster children? Those are leadership skills.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, hopeful, secure, or proud of your community — you already care enough to consider leadership.
You don’t have to decide today.
Just take one step.
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Community Trainer. A passion for community leadership and economic development drives Paula Jensen’s personal and professional life. Paula lives in her hometown of Langford, South Dakota, population 318+. He works as a community trainer with Dakota Resources based in Renner, South Dakota. Dakota Resources is a mission-driven 501(c)(3) Community Development Fund that works to connect capital and power to empower rural communities.
Contact him at paula@dakotaresources.org
