Elaine Russell Reolfi is the CEO of CommQuest Services (COMMQUEST.ORG), a NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN OHIO, that offers mental health care, addiction recovery, and social support services. She is also a contributor to the book, The Sixth Level and has been leading discussions with fellow leaders on the real-world applications of the book’s leadership model.
We spoke with Reolfi to gain deeper insight into her perspectives on The Sixth Level:
What about The Sixth Level resonates with you?
The Sixth Level gave me a name for the leadership style I have instinctively practiced for years. Its theoretical foundation, self-in-relation, captures my lifelong beliefs and practices, emphasizing individual growth through care, relationships, and emotional connection. I certainly developed that through my upbringing, as the research suggests, but I have also been inspired by playing team sports as a teenager and by watching great leaders and negotiators as an adult.
This approach isn’t about simply being nice or striving for a win-win—it’s about delivering the best possible outcome, both in the moment and over the long term. Mutuality, one of the core principles of The Sixth Level, often becomes the key to achieving that.
Connecting with the authors and contributors of The Sixth Level has made me even more aware of the power of this leadership practice. It’s pushed me to consciously refine and strengthen these skills. What fascinates me most is how diverse the effective leaders are—different personalities, different approaches—all united by the shared practice of “self-in-relation.” It’s truly inspiring.
How have you used the Sixth Level model recently?
A recent example is how we’re tackling the financial sustainability crisis hitting so many nonprofits. Our organization is seeing state and federal funding shrink, even as we work to help unhoused families find stability and provide critical mental health and addiction recovery services—many for people covered by Medicaid, which is now under threat. Internally, we’re pushing hard to boost efficiency and diversify our funding.
But we’re not doing it alone. I’m spending a lot of time connecting with other nonprofit leaders, finding common ground, and building partnerships so we can face these challenges together. Collaboration is where the real power lies and The Sixth Level model and its underlying principles provide a roadmap for collaboration. For instance, I am finding that toggling between analysis and empathy (another theory that supports The Sixth Level model), is helping us, as leaders, take a systemic look at serving our communities.
Tell us a little about CommQuest Services, Inc.
CommQuest employs 350 dedicated professionals—including counselors, social workers, medical staff, case managers, and support teams. They feel a calling to do more than just deliver day-to-day community behavioral health services. They are driven to help build a safe, welcoming community where individuals facing social, emotional, and addiction challenges can survive, heal, and live their best lives. Staying true to our founding promise from 100 years ago, we continue to affirm that “hope happens here” for everyone who seeks it.
Thank you, Elaine. Your leadership is helping to build a stronger community by helping those who are most vulnerable. We appreciate your dedication and expertise.