Building Your Reputation Working with Senior Leadership Rod Gould, Senior Partner Management Partners Building Your Reputation

Local Govt. = Team Sport Roles and relationships matter Hard work, political savvy and good intentions are not enough Each actor depends on others Supporting other actors is key to success and will accelerate your career

Breaking It Down Different actors have different roles and needs How to best serve and support? Start with elected leaders What is their role? What do they need?

Group Break out Respect the Politics Without Getting Political

Working with elected officials What advice do you have for staff working with elected leaders? What should you emphasize? What should you avoid? Working with elected officials

Some Thoughts Be respectful, polite, friendly, but keep some distance Be aware of optics Don’t play favorites If the elected official asks you for info., be careful If the elected official tells you what to do, suggest that they speak to the CM/CAO

Additional Thoughts Avoid politics at the local level Be careful about offering your opinions on elected officials verbally and on social media Be professional, prepared and willing to explain your thinking & analysis Understand that sometimes the elected leaders will not take staff advice Honor the process and system when that happens

Group break out Building a Reputation Takes Time

Early Career & Working with Senior Management What advice do you have for those who are in the early years of their career working with Senior Management? How do you create trust with Senior Management? What advice do you have for working with Senior Management if you are hoping to transition to a management role?

Some Suggestions Volunteer for committee work and special assignments Soak up training on how various aspects of local government work Attend some meetings of the various bodies Figure out the system

More Suggestions Seek coffee or lunches with senior managers Ask them about their jobs and what drives them Cultivate mentors “No job too big or small” attitude

Group break out Friend or Manager?

What advice have you for how to transition from peer to manager? How should decision making be approached with your team of former peers?

A Few Points Understand and appreciate what each team member contributes to the team’s mission Work for the benefit of the team Give and take at budget time Spread credit and thanks Take responsibility for setbacks under your purview Take the work seriously, but yourself lightly

Group Break out Working for the Community

Working with the Community What advice have you for a new leader working with the community? How should you approach community groups who do not know you yet? Which key stakeholders would be important to know? Working with the Community

A Few More Tips Be hard on the issues and soft on the people Be authentic, honest and accessible Reveal a little about your life outside of work Show interest in and commitment to the community Be hard on the issues and soft on the people A Few More Tips

Wrap-up Questions Concluding Comments Thanks!!