Blueprint for Success: Four Leadership Lessons from the great Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond

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In the forty years of his public service, many people got the chance to work for Kit Bond in some capacity. In fact, it is still the case that a large segment of the Missouri professional political class has the honor of being “Kit Bond Alum” or a part of the “Bond Brigade.” Remarkably, every one of them I have had the chance to meet has uttered the same refrain “Once you have Kit Bond as a boss, it’s only downhill from there.” The sentiment is not meant to be a slight to the many wonderful bosses and public servants we have had the chance to work for in the years since Kit Bond, but rather an acknowledgement of the extraordinary impression he left on all of our lives.

My first introduction personally to Senator Bond was in 2007. I was twenty one and an intern in his St. Louis District Office. I was finishing my undergraduate degree in Political Science and wanted real world experience and first-hand exposure to the legislative process. Later, at the end of my undergraduate studies, I moved to Washington D.C. and again joined the Senator’s team as an intern in the communications office. During this time, a staffer in St. Louis ran for State Representative and won. Our Chief of Staff asked me if I would be interested in returning home to fill the role. I said “yes” and officially joined Senator Bond’s staff.

In the forty years of his public service, many people got the chance to work for Kit Bond in some capacity. In fact, it is still the case that a large segment of the Missouri political class has the honor of being “Kit Bond Alum” or a part of the “Bond Brigade.” Remarkably, every one of them I have had the chance to meet has uttered the same refrain “Once you have Kit Bond as a boss, it’s only downhill from there.” It is not a slight to any of the wonderful bosses and public servants I have had the chance to work for in the years since that first job out of college. But none left an impression quite like Senator Kit Bond. 

1. Finding Common Ground 

It takes time to build relationships necessary to effectively pass worthwhile legislation. The legislative process was not designed to be fast moving, for good reason. Over the years, Senator Bond developed friendships with his Congressional colleagues. Members across the aisle did not always agree, but in those days, they could put partisan differences aside enough to have dialogue and find common ground. They respected each other and in doing so to a greater extent respected the institution in which they served and the country as a whole. The result was far more wins for Missouri than the tribal, obstructionist approach that is sadly the reality of Congress today. I am regularly inspired by Senator Bond’s model to be a coalition builder not bridge burner. 

2. Leaders Build Leaders

Working for Senator Bond was like a catapult for all of our careers because of his desire to see all of us grow and the way he made sure we were in positions to do so. Not long after I joined the St. Louis District office, the Republican National Committee reached out to our senior staff to see if anyone on our team would be willing to take a leave of absence to join the campaign team for Senator John McCain’s presidential run. I jumped at the opportunity. Campaign years are like dog years and when I returned to the official office after the election, I had grown up professionally. Ultimately, the boss chose not to run for reelection and to pass the baton to then Congressman Roy Blunt. Because of the opportunity Senator Bond gave me to advance my political skills and experience, I was able to serve on Congressman Blunt’s successful U.S. Senate campaign, ushering in the next era of another great statesman for Missouri. There are many in authority, especially in politics, who work hard to retain power and spotlight for themselves. They feel threatened by the rise of others. Conversely, Senator Bond set the example of using one’s elevated position to bring up the next generation of leaders. As John F. Kennedy famously said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” 

3. Gratitude 

While he was in office, the Senator would dutifully call members of our team on our birthdays. This took organization and commitment amidst a busy travel and legislative schedule. Twelve years into his retirement, at eighty three years old as of the time of this writing, the Senator still calls to check in and wish us a happy birthday. There have also been letters of recommendation, emails of congratulation when he learns of a promotion, new job, or baby.  It was our pleasure to serve him and to have the chance to play a part in the fights he took on behalf of Missourians in the U.S. Senate. We were all more than happy to work for a check and the honor of serving on his team in Congress. But he went above and beyond because he never thought of us as working for him, he thought of us as working together. This showed in his gratitude and friendship that lasted long after his time of service was over. I try to mimic this practice with my professional colleagues today. A shoutout for a job well done on a conference call, a Vemno for a coffee on an employee’s birthday, a thoughtfully written letter of recommendation, all stem from the blueprint of gratitude Senator Bond continues to implement to this day. 

4. Everyone Matters

The first time I met Senator Bond was at an in-district event during my first internship. I attended to take photos and notes while the District Office Director staffed the Senator. We exchanged a few words about my background and studies, the Senator thanked me for coming, said he had heard I was working hard in the office and that he appreciates my help. Over a year later, I was walking from our office in the Russell Senate Office Building to catch the train to head to the Capitol when I ran into the Senator walking back from the Senate floor. I had not seen the Senator since I moved to D.C. No staffer had prepped him on this happenstance encounter in the hall, but he remembered me. It struck me that not only did he recognize me, remember the context of our meeting over a year prior, but he remembered my name. This is because when Senator Bond meets people, he does not assess their status or utility to him before garnering them significance in his mind. Thus, I never felt like I was a lowly intern, staff assistant, or field representative. He treated me no differently than if I was his Chief-of-Staff. This was true for everyone he met. 

Senator Bond was a great politician because he genuinely cares about people. He was the same great leader even when no political points could be scored or earned media to be gained. Today’s political climate is so polarized, even members of the same party have a hard time building the coalitions necessary to succeed. Everyone is so focused on their personal professional advancement, that they forget to bring others up the ladder of success with them. Kit Bond’s legacy teaches us that if one leads in the micro, you will find true success in the macro. The political and policy lessons gleaned from my time working for Senator Bond could fill the pages of many books. However, it is the way he led, especially in the ways he did not have to that made the biggest impression. Each incident could seem like a small act of kindness, but when you compound them over a forty year career, they are the blocks that built one of the greatest statesmen in Missouri history. 

Thanks, boss.