Are You Prioritizing Leadership Development

Local government leaders are typically individuals who have risen through the ranks based on their technical expertise and experience in their respective fields. While technical proficiency at the department head level is rarely a problem in local government, it’s where most training resources are focused. Adequate leadership development for higher levels of authority can be overlooked while focusing on technical certification, credentials and annual updates.

Typically, most staff, including department heads, will prioritize technical development due to the perceived “job security” that comes from being the technical expert. Meanwhile, many organizations have an executive staff with varying degrees leadership abilities without a short or long term leadership development program.

The typical labeling of leadership traits as “soft skills” is misguided to say the least. Professionals with genuine leadership aptitude are valuable assets, they get the most out of their teams, communicate effectively across departments, with elected officials and residents and provide a strong foundation for City Managers and County Administrators focused on building a healthy organizational culture that provides a safe space for employees to operate and be empowered.

Effective leadership is essential for the success of local government, but the need for leadership development at the department head level often goes unnoticed. We’re gathering information in an effort to understand this challenge from the City Manager and County Administrator perspective.

Your valuable insights can drive meaningful change in local government leadership, and we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to answer three questions on this survey, results will be published in a future post.

Leadership Team Development Resources

Are you interested in options for leadership development? Check out our Local Government Executive Coaching, Leadership Training and Leadership Team Development. Don’t forget the County Administrator and City Manager Think Tanks!