The Importance of: By Jan Perkins, Senior Partner, Management Partners (former city manager) It can be scary to ask people for genuine feedback, because it requires you to be vulnerable and to open yourself to criticism. You risk learning that a project you poured your heart into was perceived by others as less than successful, [...]
By Frank Benest, ICMA Liaison for Next Generation Initiatives I’m a mid-career manager in a large water district. The division team that I supervise is involved in water conservation and recycling programs. I also lead several project teams involving internal and external groups. During my career, I’ve participated on a few great-achieving teams and some [...]
By Cheryl Hilvert, Management and Leadership Consultant & Former City Manager, Ohio As I look back on 31 years of local government service I am both pleased, and humbled, by the importance of the work that we people do, the people I have met, and all the many things I learned along the way. While [...]
Interview of Jan Perkins by Samantha (Sam) Ferrigno, Membership & Marketing Manager, ICMA Recently I was reading PM magazine searching for leadership articles or quick tips that I chould share on this blog, and I thumbed across 'Building Career Resiliency: Hone Your Ability to Grow from Adversity.' The article includes great takeaways and common traits and practices [...]
"Sometimes it takes awhile to fully embrace that I needed and wanted to move on." By Charlene Stevens, City Administrator - Cottage Grove, MN I have worked in local government since 1996 and been fortunate to have good mentors and good opportunities. I was by most reasonable accounts a good manager and a solid professional. [...]
Women's Career Resources Lunch – The Confidence Code By Linda Kelly Recently, I had the pleasure of taking 10 of our female staff members to the 2015 Women's Career Resources Lunch in Palo Alto. It was about a two-hour, 100-mile drive each way, so the ability for all of us to go together in a Town [...]
By Wally Bobkiewicz - City Manager, Evanston, IL I recently spoke with a talented female staff member who is a senior member of one of our department management teams. She has an advanced professional degree and has been with the City for several years. Her department director and I had discussed departmental organization and the [...]
10 Things You Need to Manage Before You Manage Others By Susan Ritchie Making a move into your first leadership or management post can be a daunting experience. I remember how unprepared I felt and cringe at the memory of leading my first team meeting. When a member of my team got up part way [...]