Leadership that delivers.
Results that last.
Our mission is to raise people's expectations of political leaders by showing them a higher standard of leadership: finding agreement across divides, and building solutions that last.
The problem
Politics is dominated by anger and division.
Outrage goes viral
Anger keeps people online, so algorithms push it. It gets more likes and shares, so politicians post more of it.
Media amplifies it
Conflict sells. It attracts viewers, listeners, and readers.
Campaigns exploit it
Attacks are a quick, easy argument. No nuance required, perfect for a 30-second ad.
Outrage rewards politicians with name recognition, fundraising, and visibility. Problem-solvers get drowned out in the noise.
Angry voters look for fighters
When people are angry, they want leaders willing to force one-sided policies through. What people need to see instead is more examples of leaders who build consensus around shared values and interests.
Fighting gives us short-term fixes
Fighters govern with executive orders and party-line votes. One-sided policies get undone when power shifts, and power always shifts. The harder one side tries to hold on, the harder the other side works to tear it down.
The cost
Billions to build it.
Billions to undo it.
Billions to build something else.
Money spent, and nothing to show for it except public debt, private capital losses, court fights, and market uncertainty.
What we do
Only broad agreement produces durable solutions.
Results Matter Institute makes effective leadership visible. We are rewarding the wrong things in politics today, and we incentivize divisive behavior. If we want a different kind of leadership, we have to change what we reward.
Raise the standard
Show people a higher standard of leadership: finding agreement across divides instead of performing conflict.
Make it visible
Put real problem-solving in front of people, in public, so anger is not the only thing they see.
Change what people look for
Visible examples change what voters expect, and what they expect changes who gets rewarded.
What we work on
The work, in public
Our public work starts with three issues that shape the long term.
Affordability
The cost of everyday life, and policy that takes it seriously.
Read moreHousing
Homes people can afford, in communities that can build them.
Read moreWater
Reliable water for the families, farms, and communities that depend on it.
Read moreAlso in our work: Debt · Energy · Public lands · Local control · China
News
In the news
Commentary, coverage, and campaign creative from the Institute, posted as the work rolls out.
Stay informed
Occasional updates on the work: new commentary, campaigns, and results. No noise.