LEAD WITH CIVILITY: A Practical Guide for Uncivil Times
By Diane Kalen-Sukra
 
Everyone has a role to play in addressing the rising tide of incivility and toxic behavior that is tearing at the social fabric, undermining local governance, and stifling collaboration. What is the unique role of civic leaders?
 
Lead with Civility answers this crucial question, offering the inspiration, strategies, and practical tools leaders need to rise above the toxicity, transform culture, and guide their communities toward respect and cooperation.
 
Armed with her bestselling book Save Your City, Diane Kalen-Sukra’s civility tour went global, raising awareness of the destructive effects of incivility on local governance. The tour culminated in the world’s first Global Civility Summit she organized, where 450 civic leaders from hundreds of cities gathered to share actionable solutions.
 
This book brings those insights to life, offering a clear Roadmap to Renewing Civic Culture, from diagnosing toxic culture to embedding civility into policy and leadership. Kalen-Sukra introduces her Tackling Toxicity to Cultivating Civility Spectrum, which guides leaders through the stages of reacting to toxic behavior, managing incivility with structured policies, and ultimately leading with civility embedded in governance.
 
Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern insights, she reminds us that civic leaders are not just policymakers—they are culture shapers, tasked with cultivating environments where respect, empathy, and justice thrive.
 
Civility is not optional; it is the lifeblood of human flourishing. This is your essential guide to leading with civility—and transforming the civic culture your community.