Leading with Dignity

By: Tami Pyfer

Last week I was in Palo Alto wrapping up a yearlong fellowship with the Emerson Collective—an organization working to create “a world of abundance for future generations” by supporting people and projects that strengthen communities.

My 2024 Community Champs cohort included a dozen remarkable individuals tackling deeply rooted challenges in their community or state with innovative, locally driven solutions.

My project focused on using the Dignity Index as a tool to support women interested in public office or seeking leadership roles in Utah. As someone who for nearly two decades held local and state elected positions and worked in a governor’s office, I thought of the relatively low numbers of women in elected and leadership positions in my state and the challenges faced by women everywhere who want to be more politically engaged. As one female mayor emphasized, “Politics is a blood sport.” This is a barrier for many women seeking to enter these conversations.

And yet the value of women’s leadership is enormous. Research shows that when women are involved in politics, we see stronger and more sustainable peace agreements; better prioritization of social infrastructure; increased bipartisanship, collaboration, and inclusivity; better responsiveness to constituents and stakeholders; a greater likelihood of preventing and reducing corruption; and more.

 My hope is to pave the way for more women to serve in leadership roles, and a highlight of my fellowship was learning from a group of women serving as mayors, city council members, and school board officials who were using the the Index to support their public service.

One woman recounted that when she was elected mayor of her small town in southern Utah, the entire city staff and board members resigned in protest and she was left to build her administration from scratch. She said they had come a long way as a community in the past few years, and now she uses the Dignity Index to set a positive tone – offering it as a tool by which patrons can hold her and her staff accountable for how they interact with the public. A city council member from a quiet suburban community noted that the Dignity Index cards are provided in their city offices, alongside other information about city resources.

In a conversation with these women leaders we talked about the pushback we sometimes hear when advocating for dignity as a problem solving tool. Some people insist “you have to fight with fire.” But as one mayor explained, that’s absolutely not how you fight fire – by adding more fuel and growing the flame! As soon as you use contempt, “there is no future for productive conversation, no problem-solving, no moving forward.”

To a person, these inspiring women described the impact the Dignity Index has had on their own language, behavior, and leadership. One council member put it simply: “I don’t know how we turn the temperature down with our residents, if we don’t turn the temperature down within ourselves first.”

I am frequently asked to speak on the “urgency of women’s leadership,” and I find myself reflecting more and more on this statement made in 1985 by Utah religious leader Gordon B. Hinckley:

“We live in a world where peace exists only by reason of a balance of terror. I have often thought that if great numbers of the women of all nations were to unite and lift their voices in the cause of peace, there would develop a worldwide will for peace which could save our civilization and avoid untold suffering, misery, plague, starvation, and the death of millions.”

I believe in the power of women’s voices. And I believe that dignity is the key to elevating those voices.

I recently heard a story of a book talk given by David Sengeh, who has served as Chief Minister of Sierra Leone. He said, “If you want to create a society that works for everyone, it’s crucial to include everyone in the discussion and decisions. We want to have everyone in the room, so to speak. But it’s not just who's in the room, it's who's at the table. And it's not just who's at the table, but who's speaking. And it's not just if you're speaking, but if you're saying what you really think."

It takes a strong dignity culture to make sure people will take the risk of saying what they really think.
   
That’s what dignity means – true freedom of speech. I can ask for what I need and say what I think – but I do it in a way that encourages everyone else to ask for what they need and say what they think.
 
Any group, no matter how large or small, that can offer each other this kind of dignity will improve the lives of everyone in it – and those outside it as well.

With gratitude,
Tami

---

Watch Empowering Women in Politics Through The Dignity Index 🎥

---

The Dignity Movement in Action

Earlier this week Tami presented at Utah Tech University, thanks to the efforts of Student Ambassador Kylie Tingey, who recently chartered a Students for Dignity chapter on campus and worked with Dean of Students Ali Threet to organize the event! 

---

Tim Shriver joined the Special Olympics World Games in Turin, Italy, where he spoke at the Opening Ceremonies last night. He shared a powerful message: “This is Special Olympics Country—free of hatred, free of fear, free for every gift to shine.”

At the heart of the Games are the athletes, supported by thousands of volunteers and families who recognize and celebrate the dignity of all.

---

Spread the Word: Share and Engage

The conversation around dignity is growing, and sharing this newsletter helps bring more people into it. When we challenge contempt and focus on dignity, we create space for real change. If this resonates with you, share this on Facebook and invite others to join the conversation.

Follow us on Instagram (@thedignityindex) for more ways to engage. Every share helps shift the narrative—let’s keep it going!