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Confidential Think Tanks

for the Isolated City Manager or County Administrator

Path to Think Tank Membership
Schedule Your Think Tank Consultation

Benefits of Joining a Think Tank

Joining a Think Tank does more than expand your network—it enriches your professional journey with actionable insights that directly enhance your leadership effectiveness. Explore the multifaceted benefits of being part of this exclusive community.

Confidentiality

A secure space for open, trusted sharing among City Managers and County Administrators.

Problem Solve

Diverse insights and structured methods reveal root causes, enhancing solution development.

Innovation

Gain cutting-edge solutions to advance your leadership and transform your community.

Leadership

Enhance your skills through peer-driven insights and collaborative learning.

Networking

Connect with peers nationwide, expanding your professional circle beyond local boundaries.

Community

12-member groups ensure deep connections, fostering a supportive, intimate community.

Every session provides an opportunity to learn from both successes and setbacks, shared by individuals who have navigated similar bureaucratic challenges and public pressures. Whether it’s enhancing your strategic planning skills or mastering complex political environments, the collective wisdom within these groups fosters significant improvements in your professional capabilities and the well-being of the communities you serve.

Think Tank Testimonials

Confidentiality is our top priority. We protect the privacy of our Think Tank members by not disclosing names or identifying information. This ensures a secure environment for sharing insights. Participants who provided these testimonials are available to speak with potential members, offering guidance and firsthand insights.

I have found the investment of time, and modest resources to be well worth it.  Managers from varying sized communities are afforded a safe space, to problem solve, support each other, and decompress when needed.  It also gives me a chance to get to know a group of colleagues from the profession that I likely would have never had the occasion to get to know.

City Manager – Michigan

Participating in our City Management think tank has been an invaluable experience for me both personally and professionally. As a dedicated public servant, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of managing a city and feel isolated in the face of complex problems. However, being part of this think tank has provided me with a supportive community of peers who share similar experiences and understand the intricacies of our roles.

One of the most significant benefits I’ve gained from participating in these discussions is the reassurance that I’m not alone in facing the myriad of issues that come with city management. It’s incredibly comforting to know that other professionals encounter similar obstacles and can offer valuable insights and perspectives based on their own experiences. This sense of camaraderie and solidarity has been instrumental in recharging my “service” battery, renewing my passion for public service, and reminding me of the collective impact we can make when we come together to tackle challenges collaboratively.

Moreover, the diversity of expertise and backgrounds within our think tank has enriched our discussions and provided me with fresh ideas and approaches to address issues in my own city. The opportunity to engage in candid and confidential conversations allows for open dialogue and brainstorming, leading to innovative solutions and best practices that I can apply in my day-to-day work.

Overall, participating in our City Management think tank has been a transformative experience, helping me to navigate the complexities of my role with greater confidence and resilience. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and look forward to continuing our collective efforts to drive positive change in our cities.

City Manager – Iowa

In reflecting on our meeting on Friday I can honestly say that the group discussion was very helpful to my situation. I realized that by talking about it with other people, I was also able to work through some of my own thoughts. I hadn’t been able to articulate my real concerns, nor had I acknowledged information that had already been shared with me from the employee. The group helped me separate the distracting bits of data to see what was really important. Thanks again.

Assistant City Manager – Texas

No one understands the unique position of a City Manager like another City Manager. The Think Tank sessions and the colleagues in them have always provided sound advice, reassurance, and unique perspectives when I’ve been faced with a crisis, community issue, or organizational conflict. Being able to help others colleagues has also help me grow as a leader and provided me confidence in my abilities.  

City Manager – Florida

Imagine That Performance Think Tank sessions have been some of the most meaningful, insightful and useful conversations I have had in my career in local government. The ability to talk openly with other professionals from around the country on difficult situations allows me the opportunity to obtain perspectives I could not have received in any other venue.

Assistant City Manager – Florida
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Introduction to Think Tanks

In the complex realm of local government, leaders often face the daunting task of making impactful decisions in isolation. Our Think Tanks break down these barriers, offering a supportive environment where you can share experiences, explore new ideas, and develop effective solutions together. By joining, you’re not only accessing a network of like-minded professionals but also tapping into a wealth of knowledge that can help propel your city or county forward.

Think Tanks are not just meetings; they’re strategic forums that foster collaborative problem-solving and innovative leadership. Here, you will connect with peers who understand the unique challenges of your role and share your commitment to public service excellence.

County Administrator and City Manager Think Tanks are the best option we can offer for The Isolated Leaders in Local Government. Our Think Tanks serve as a real-time platform where City Managers and County Administrators can engage with their peers to address challenges head-on. These exclusive professionally facilitated groups allow leaders to draw on collective experience, wisdom, and insights, fostering a supportive environment for informed decision-making and problem solving.

Membership Information

Our Think Tank thrives on the diversity of its members, who bring a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives from across the United States, enriching discussions and enhancing the development of effective solutions:

  • Geographical Diversity:
    • Members from cities, towns, villages, and counties.
    • Encompasses both bustling urban centers and serene rural communities.
  • Career Stage Variety:
    • Seasoned veterans with decades of experience
    • Mid-Career Managers
    • First-time Early Career managers
  • Professional Backgrounds:
    • Members have ascended through various career paths, not limited to essential local government fields such as public works, finance, planning, and public safety.
    • Diversity in professional experience contributes to a broad spectrum of insights.
  • Inclusive Representation:
    • Committed to including members from diverse ethnic backgrounds and genders.
    • Actively engages minority participants, valuing the unique perspectives they bring to local government issues.

This rich diversity fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies, nurturing a collaborative atmosphere conducive to growth. By integrating members from various backgrounds and career stages, our Think Tank not only reflects the communities we serve but also champions a learning environment where every voice is valued. This approach enhances our ability to tackle complex challenges and drive meaningful change in local governance, making our Think Tank a powerhouse of progressive leadership and practical solutions.

Path to Think Tank Membership

The process to join our Think Tanks is crafted to ensure each member is not only a current city manager or county administrator, but also deeply committed to leadership development and continuous improvement. This selective approach underpins the high standards and effectiveness for which our Think Tanks are known.

Schedule

Begin your journey by scheduling a personal interview to discuss your interests and qualifications.

Meet

Have an in-depth meeting with our facilitator to understand the goals of the Think Tank and how you can contribute.

Attend Think Tank

Participate in a Think Tank session at no cost to experience our community’s dynamics and value firsthand.

De-Brief

Meet again with the facilitator to discuss the outcomes of the trial session and decide on long-term participation.

Commitment

Members must commit to attend at least 10 Think Tanks a year and maintaining Confidentiality

Invoice

Once committed, an invoice will be generated. Welcome to the Think Tank community!

Think Tank Cost

$99/month

Invoice of $1,188 generated on November 1 for the following calendar year. New members will pay pro-rated portion for remaining months of the year.

How Think Tanks Work

Using a predefined process, the assembled group will look beyond surface-level issues and delve into the core of any topic, opportunity or problem. The group will use each idea to uncover new insights and, once a more profound understanding is achieved, offer guidance and suggestions from that unique vantage point. The diverse group of City Managers and County Administrators will ask questions and offer perspectives from different viewpoints. This level of sharing benefits all members as insight is gained throughout the process. Just hearing the questions from other Think Tanks members will provide significant insights to grow as a leader.

Our Think Tanks operate with a systematic approach, ensuring that each meeting is impactful. Held monthly, these 90 minute sessions are meticulously planned to cover a broad spectrum of topics relevant to city management and county administration. The intimate group size of no more than 12 members guarantees that discussions are comprehensive and each voice is heard. It is the small group size that makes the discussion intimate and personal. The small group size necessitates a significant commitment from Think Tank Members. All Think Tank Members must commit to attending at least 10 of the 12 sessions a year.

Think Tanks begin with participants each sharing significant “proud moments in leadership” since the last session. Then each participant highlights an upcoming challenge, opportunity or significant decision in the coming month. Once all have shared, the group will dig deep on a single Topic, Opportunity or Problem using the EDIT GO process.

The EDIT GO process used in Think Tank Sessions

A skilled professional facilitator expertly steers each Think Tank session, fostering an environment that encourages active participation and the exchange of diverse perspectives. By enabling participants to pose varied discovery questions, the facilitator ensures a dynamic exploration of issues, maintaining the integrity of the process. This approach not only uncovers the root causes of challenges but also leverages the unique insights of each member, ensuring that the recommendations shared are well-rounded and deeply informed.

Think Tank sessions conclude with each participant sharing a significant take away. These range from learning about a technology or service a participant may have been unaware of, to new strategies when dealing with people or something that triggered a more profound self-awareness. 

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    Why Confidential Think Tanks?

    It has gotten dangerous to talk. This is a significant challenge for any figure who operates in public. People getting canceled or censored is on a significant rise. In local government, residents and staff have publicly released private conversations about challenges within the organization. There has never been a more challenging time to be a city manager or county administrator than it is today.

    Our think tanks provide a safe space for these leaders to authentically speak their mind with true vulnerability. Not enough places exist in the world today for county administrators or city managers to be able to do that.

    Support Between Think Tanks

    The Think Tanks community provides more than just a set of routine monthly gatherings. Additional support services assist leaders at every step of their journey. Beyond our scheduled meetings, we offer robust, responsive aid through Emergency Think Tank Sessions. These sessions can be convened rapidly — sometimes within the same day — to address urgent crises faced by members. Drawing on the collective expertise of participants from various groups, these emergency sessions are vital for timely and effective problem-solving.

    In addition to real-time crisis management, members have exclusive access to a private online community platform. This digital space is pivotal for continuous interaction among Think Tank members, offering features such as real-time chat, access to detailed member profiles within their specific group, and the ability to exchange questions and share insights securely. This platform enhances the collective problem-solving capabilities of the group by maintaining open lines of communication between sessions. Here, members can also leverage the diverse experiences and expertise of their peers in other Think Tank groups to find support and share information securely, ensuring no member has to wait until the next meeting to seek advice or share a critical update.

    This enhanced support structure between Think Tanks ensures that all members can excel in their roles, armed with both immediate assistance and ongoing resources.

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    Think Tank FAQs

    Our FAQ section is crafted to provide clear, thorough answers to common questions that potential members might have. From logistical queries about meeting schedules to more detailed questions about the benefits and operations of our Think Tanks, we’ve got you covered.

    When are the City Manager and County Administrator Think Tanks?

    Think Tanks are scheduled monthly at a set time the same way a council/commission meeting would be. So, for example, one group meets every Third Friday at 2pm.

    There are multiple groups already on a set schedule.

    Who will be in my Think Tank group?

    Your group will have both City Managers and County Administrators from various locations, creating a divergent group perspective. Each County Administrator and City Manager Think Tank is carefully cultivated to ensure diversity within the group while also ensuring quality participants.

    Who chooses what will be discussed?

    Each City Manager and County Administrator will have the opportunity to bring forward at least one topic, opportunity or problem to discuss each year. This will ensure all members have the opportunity to gain insight on a specific item once a year.

    What if I change jobs?

    A Think Tank member will be encouraged to continue to participate if in transition or upon securing a position that is not deemed a conflict of interest to the group.

    Join a Think Tank

    Taking the step to join our Think Tank is more than just signing up; it’s committing to a journey of profound professional growth and community impact. With straightforward joining processes and immediate benefits, our Think Tank provides everything you need to make significant strides in your leadership and managerial abilities.

    Begin your journey to become a Think Tank Member by scheduling a personal virtual interview to discuss your interests and qualifications.

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