Transitioning into a city manager role entails numerous challenges and opportunities. The first 90 days focus on building trust, clarifying authority, fostering relationships, and adapting leadership styles. Establishing early wins and maintaining communication are vital. Ultimately, new leaders should shape their path, leveraging strategic insights for successful governance.

Leaders often fear taking time away from work due to concerns about missed deadlines, unresolved issues, and trust gaps. Effective delegation, fostering a culture of trust, and promoting team autonomy are essential strategies for overcoming these fears. Empowered teams can thrive independently, driving growth and innovation, even in a leader’s absence.

Key Takeaways Local governments are facing unprecedented challenges: aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, and the accelerating pace of technological change. Having worked closely with local government leadership teams throughout the country for the past decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand the complexities of navigating these challenges. Opportunities to adopt new technologies exist, but many organizations remain stuck with […]

Key Insights: How to identify patterns of wasted time. Strategies to set boundaries and align time with strategic goals. The role of personal accountability in fostering a time-conscious culture. In a recent Think Tank session, the question, “Who do you allow to waste your time?” was posed to a participant grappling with time management challenges. […]

Public Service Enhancement: The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction, Performance, and Employee Engagement In an era where building public trust remain paramount, local governments should increasingly emphasize job satisfaction and employee engagement. Recent studies highlight employee engagement and job satisfaction as critical indicators of organizational success and the effectiveness. How these components interact provides a blueprint […]

The Power of Organizational Culture In today’s dynamic work environment, the role of organizational culture in driving employee wellbeing and performance cannot be overstated.  Insights from the 2019 and 2022 Global Happiness and Wellbeing Policy Reports offer valuable guidance on  organizational culture. Both emphasize the importance of a supportive culture, effective leadership, and work-life balance […]

As local government organizations struggle evolve, there comes a point where moving beyond the rigid structure of rules and regulations becomes necessary to foster a more dynamic and proactive workplace. This evolution involves setting higher standards and clear expectations that will lead to necessary compliance across all departments consistently. Here’s how leaders can navigate this […]

In an era where leadership and teamwork are pivotal to organizational success, the City of Heath’s leadership team, under the stewardship of City Manager Aretha Adams, embarked on a transformative journey in late 2023. The Leadership Team Development story culminated with a distinctive leadership retreat. This turning point significantly enhanced the team’s cohesion, trust, and […]

In a conversation I had last week with Jay Gsell, he posed a compelling question about Local Government Leadership: “What has scared you into inertia?” Jay Gsell, Retired County Manager, Genesee County, New York This may not directly apply to all local governments, but I have seen my share of Cities and Counties that struggle […]

A Guide for Senior Executives In the intricate dance of local government leadership, city managers, county administrators, and their executive teams stand at the critical nexus between visionary change and the steadfast values of public service. As architects of community destiny and custodians of public trust, they navigate a landscape where innovation intersects with tradition, […]

In the intricate landscape of local government, the dynamics of leadership development and internal promotion stand as cornerstones for organizational success. The essence of leadership in this realm is not merely about managing tasks but nurturing the growth of individuals and the community as a whole. Drawing from the comprehensive studies of the International Customer […]

In our previous exploration of The Isolated Leader, we delved into the profound challenges faced by the dedicated and often isolated Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in Local Government. We highlighted their isolation and the unique mental, emotional, and physical toll it takes. After reading the article, an insightful perspective was shared by Phil Smith-Hanes, Saline […]