March 11th, 2026

“Being the most accountable person

you know is one of the most

liberating things on the planet.”

-Kyle Sexton

Yesterday, Chris and I had the opportunity to spend the day with fellow chamber professionals at the WMC Spring Training session, hosted at the Alliant Energy Corporate Headquarters—an amazing facility! The day featured roundtable discussions, group participation, and an engaging keynote from Kyle Sexton, which kept the energy high from start to finish.

And the theme for the day? Leadership.

It’s a topic we hear often, but one that never seems to run out of relevance or good conversation. Just last month at the Live2Lead Conference, we explored leadership in broad strokes and discussed how those lessons apply across industries. This week’s training, however, focused specifically on leadership within the Chamber of Commerce world, drawing from Sexton’s new book, March Forth.

While some of our conversations were very chamber-specific, the ideas in March Forth offer valuable insights and reminders that can benefit anyone in a leadership role or anyone who wants to lead from where they are.

And once again, I’ve let my assistant, Ms. ChatGPT, compile a few key takeaways to share below.

Thank you, Ms. C!

1. Leadership Is a Decision, Not a Title

One of the core messages is that anyone can lead, regardless of their job title or position. Leadership happens when someone steps forward to move a situation or team forward.

Key idea:

• You don’t have to wait to be “in charge” to lead.
• Leadership can happen in everyday moments at work or in your community.

2. Leaders Absorb Uncertainty for Their Team

A strong leader protects their team from chaos, confusion, and fear so others can focus on doing their work well.

Key idea:

• Leadership often means standing between your team and uncertainty.
• When leaders take responsibility, others feel safe to take action.

3. Progress Matters More Than Perfection

Sexton emphasizes that many organizations stall because people wait for the perfect plan.



Key idea:

• Start moving forward even if everything isn’t perfect.
• Momentum creates results.

4. Leadership Is About Influence

The book connects leadership to marketing principles like clarity, trust, and influence.

Key idea:

• Leaders influence how people think and act.
• Clear communication and trust build strong teams.

5. Ownership and Accountability

A recurring theme is that leaders take responsibility for outcomes instead of blaming others.



Key idea:

• Own the mission.
• Accept responsibility when things go wrong.
• Accountability builds credibility.

6. Make the People Around You Better

Great leaders focus on developing others, not just achieving results.

Key idea:

• Help teammates grow.
• Elevate others’ performance and confidence.

7. Leadership Happens in Small Moments

Leadership is not just big decisions—it happens in daily actions and interactions.



Examples of leadership moments:

• Taking initiative on a problem
• Supporting a teammate
• Speaking up for the mission
• Clarifying direction

In addition to the great knowledge shared from the front of the room, I was equally impressed by the technology being used around our table. One chamber friend used her Owll app to record and transcribe all of the speaker sessions throughout the day, so cool! Another used a digital paper tablet to handwrite her notes, which instantly organized and downloaded into folders, keeping everything neat and tidy. For a girl who suffers from chicken-scratch-itis and a short attention span, these tools might just be worth adding to my list for future conferences!

Hey, now that I’ve shared all this great information with you, March Forth! Be leaders in the big moments and the small ones. Lead even when it isn’t written in your title. And most importantly, help make the people around you better.

#LeadWhereYouAre

Kate Abbe

The Elkhorn Chamber

LAST CALL!!!

ADVERTISING DEADLINE MARCH 13TH, 2026

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