Learning to Rise: Resilience in the Face of Municipal Challenges

We’ve journeyed through vulnerability, values, and trust in our exploration of Brené Brown’s “Dare to Lead.” Today, we tackle the final crucial skill: Learning to Rise. The ability to bounce back from setbacks is the crescendo that brings the entire symphony of leadership together…and as someone who’s tasted the dirt at the bottom of the valley, I’m rooting for your bouncebacks to be far higher than you can even imagine.

Understanding ‘Learning to Rise’ in City Management

Brown describes ‘Learning to Rise’ as the ability to get back up after a fall, face hurt in a way that brings more wisdom, and reset faster after disappointments. For city managers, this skill is not just beneficial—it’s essential. In the unpredictable and often harsh world of municipal leadership, setbacks are not a possibility; they’re a certainty.

For a city manager, learning to rise might look like:

• Rebounding after a controversial policy decision faces public backlash
• Regrouping when a major development project falls through
• Maintaining morale and direction when budget cuts force difficult decisions
• Navigating the aftermath of a public health or safety crisis
• Finding solid ground after a city council fires you unexpectedly

The Challenge of Resilience for City Managers

Developing resilience in the municipal environment comes with unique hurdles:

1. Public Scrutiny: Failures and setbacks often play out in the public eye, amplifying their impact.
2. Political Pressure: Mistakes can be weaponized by political opponents, making it harder to admit and learn from them.
3. High Stakes: Decisions affect entire communities, making the weight of potential failure especially heavy.
4. Chronic Stress: The constant demand for problem-solving can lead to burnout, making resilience more difficult.
5. Limited Control: Many factors affecting a city’s success are outside a manager’s direct control, potentially leading to feelings of helplessness.

The Power of Resilience in Municipal Leadership

Despite these challenges, cultivating resilience can transform your leadership and your city:

1. Faster Recovery: Resilient leaders and organizations bounce back more quickly from setbacks.
2. Improved Problem-Solving: Each challenge becomes a learning opportunity, enhancing future decision-making.
3. Increased Innovation: A resilient culture encourages risk-taking and creative solutions.
4. Enhanced Trust: Demonstrating resilience builds confidence in your leadership among staff and the community.
5. Personal Well-being: Resilience helps manage stress and prevents burnout, crucial for long-term success in demanding roles.

Cultivating Resilience in City Management

Here are strategies to learn to rise in your role as a city manager:

1. Embrace the Learning: View setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than failures.
2. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself in the face of difficulties. Remember, you’re human too.
3. Develop a Support Network: Build relationships with peers, mentors, or coaches who can offer perspective and encouragement.
4. Focus on What You Can Control: Identify aspects of challenges you can influence and direct your energy there.
5. Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to develop and improve your skills over time.
6. Prioritize Self-Care: Maintain physical and mental health practices to build your resilience reservoir.
7. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress and successes, no matter how small, to maintain motivation.

The Role of Executive Coaching in Building Resilience

As an executive coach, I’ve found that developing resilience is where many city managers find the most profound transformation. A coach can:

• Help you reframe setbacks and extract valuable lessons
• Provide tools for managing stress and preventing burnout
• Support you in developing a personalized resilience strategy
• Offer an outside perspective on challenges and potential solutions
• Guide you in building and leveraging a support network

While these benefits are universal to good coaching, at HaltingWinter, we’ve taken a unique approach to meet the specific needs of city managers.

At HaltingWinter, we do things differently. We only take a very limited number of coaching clients because they get unlimited access and support. City management is a 24/7 reality. You don’t get the pleasure of telling water pipes when they can or can’t break, commanding the timing of natural disasters or public catastrophes, or pulling priceless rubies out of your pockets to fix all your budget constraints. Our coaching is more than a few monthly sessions. It’s support. 24/7. When you need it most. If a different type of coaching than you’ve ever experienced piques your interest, reach out, and let’s see how we can be a support to your health and growth.

Conclusion: The Resilient Symphony of Leadership

Learning to rise isn’t about never falling—it’s about rising every time you fall. It’s about turning the discord of setbacks into the harmony of growth and progress. When you cultivate resilience, you create a leadership style that can weather any storm and emerge stronger.

As we conclude this series on Brené Brown’s four courage-building skills, remember that vulnerability, living into our values, braving trust, and learning to rise are not isolated skills. They work together, creating a symphony of courageous leadership that can transform your effectiveness and the health of your city.

How do you practice resilience in your role? What strategies have helped you bounce back from setbacks? Share your experiences on our LinkedIn page. Let’s create a community of resilient leaders, ready to face the challenges of city management head-on.

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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.