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

2. 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

3. 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?

4. Group Break out
Respect the Politics Without Getting Political

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Group break out
Building a Reputation Takes Time

9. 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?

10. 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

11. 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

12. Group break out
Friend or Manager?

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

14. 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

15. Group Break out
Working for the Community

16. 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

17. 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

18. Wrap-up
Questions Concluding Comments Thanks!!