Improve leadership to improve your performance

The effectiveness of your city council and staff depends on many factors.  Below are two of the most common ways you can make your leadership more effective:

1. Train council members and staff on financing 
   One of the most overlooked training areas is finance, because there’s a misconception that finance is only the responsibility of the Finance Director or the City Administrator.  With decreasing state aid forcing cities to make serious budget considerations, finance is everyone’s responsibility.  We can provide a Finance 101 session for your entire leadership team to review your current financial situation, walk through a monthly statement and explain everyone’s role in ensuring financial accountability.  For a quick look at common city revenue sources and expense categories, visit our City Finance Overview page.
   
   
2. Address conflicts to maximize contributions
   Given the composition of governing bodies, it’s not unusual to encounter conflicts.  Leaders who may have been competing against each other in an election are now expected to work together, and likely have differing personal agendas.  We can work with your leadership to analyze obstacles, resolve differences and move the team forward.  If a conflict requires formal intervention, our Organization Development experts are Minnesota State Supreme Court Rule 114 Qualified Neutral for mediation services.

To learn more about making your leadership more effective, contact one of our government experts.