Braving Trust: The Bedrock of Effective City Management

In our journey through Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead,” we’ve explored vulnerability and living into our values. Today, we tackle the third crucial skill: Braving Trust. From the lens of my experience as a leader and executive coach, I’ve observed trust functioning as the fulcrum upon which the entire balance of effective city management teeters.

Understanding Trust in City Management

Brown defines trust as “choosing to make something important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else.” As a city manager, trust is the invisible thread that weaves together your team, your relationship with elected officials, and your connection with the community. It’s not just about being reliable; it’s about creating an environment where risks can be taken, difficult conversations can be had, and innovation can flourish.

For a city manager, braving trust might look like:

• Delegating important projects to team members and supporting their autonomy
• Being transparent about challenges and setbacks with the city council and the public
• Admitting mistakes and showing a commitment to learning and improvement
• Consistently following through on commitments, even when it’s difficult

The Challenge of Trust for City Managers

Building and maintaining trust in the municipal environment comes with unique challenges:

1. Public Skepticism: There’s often an inherent distrust of government institutions that you must overcome.
2. Political Volatility: Changing administrations and shifting political alliances can disrupt established trust.
3. Media Scrutiny: In an era of 24/7 news and social media, every action (or inaction) is subject to immediate public judgment…and trolls abound.
4. Resource Limitations: Balancing promises with budget realities can strain trust with both your team and the public.
5. Crisis Management: High-stakes situations can quickly erode trust if not handled with transparency and competence.

The Power of Trust in Municipal Leadership

Despite these challenges, cultivating a high-trust environment can transform your leadership and your city:

1. Increased Efficiency: When trust is high, decisions can be made more quickly, and implementation is smoother.
2. Enhanced Innovation: A trusting environment encourages risk-taking and creative problem-solving.
3. Improved Morale: Trust fosters a positive work culture, leading to higher employee satisfaction and retention.
4. Better Community Engagement: When citizens trust their local government, they’re more likely to participate in civic processes and support initiatives.
5. Resilience in Crisis: A foundation of trust allows for more effective crisis management and faster recovery.

Cultivating Trust in City Management

Here are strategies to brave trust in your role as a city manager:

1. Be Consistent: Align your words and actions. Follow through on commitments, no matter how small.
2. Practice Transparency: Share information openly, including the reasoning behind decisions and the challenges you face.
3. Encourage Feedback: Create safe channels for your team and the public to provide honest feedback without fear of retribution.
4. Demonstrate Competence: Continuously develop your skills and knowledge. This means staying updated on best practices in city management, attending relevant conferences, and perhaps even pursuing additional certifications. Admit when you don’t know something and commit to finding answers. For instance, one city manager I coached made it a practice to host monthly “learning lunches” where staff shared insights from recent trainings or industry publications.
5. Show Benevolence: Make decisions with the community’s best interests at heart and be able to articulate your reasoning.
6. Respect Boundaries: Understand and honor the boundaries of your role, your team’s roles, and those of elected officials.
7. Be Accountable: Take responsibility for mistakes and show how you’re learning and improving from them.

The Role of Executive Coaching in Building Trust

As an executive coach, I’ve found that trust-building is a critical area where many city managers seek support. A coach can:

• Help you identify blind spots in your trust-building efforts
• Provide strategies for rebuilding trust after it has been damaged
• Offer tools for having difficult conversations that enhance trust
• Support you in creating a culture of trust within your organization
• Guide you in navigating complex trust dynamics with elected officials and the public

At HaltingWinter, we’ve developed specific workshops designed to enhance trust and communication in municipal settings. Our aim is to help you dramatically improve your relationships with staff, elected officials, and the community, leading to more effective governance and improved outcomes for your city. Reach out here to learn more.

Conclusion

Braving trust in city management is not a one-time act, but a continuous process of showing up, being reliable, and acting with integrity. It requires courage, consistency, and a commitment to transparency. When you cultivate trust, you create an environment where your team can excel, your relationships with elected officials can be productive, and your community can thrive.

Remember, trust is both a catalyst for and a result of great leadership. By consistently braving trust, you set in motion a virtuous cycle that can transform your effectiveness as a leader and the overall health of your city.

Before we move to our final post in this series, take a moment to reflect on your own trust-building practices. Where are you excelling? Where might there be room for growth? This self-awareness is the first step towards enhancing trust in your leadership.

In our next and final post, we’ll explore how learning to rise – developing resilience and the ability to get back up after setbacks – completes the skill set of a courageous leader in city management.

How do you build and maintain trust in your role? What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them? Share your experiences on our LinkedIn page – let’s learn from each other’s trust-building journeys in municipal leadership.

---

Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.