What distinguishes the best politicians in local government? For the last few months, we have been trying to find out, on behalf of the Local Government Leadership Centre.
Our initial findings are enlightening, and perhaps a useful reminder for officers cursing their leader.
1. Political leadership involves more intangibles than managerial leadership. Whereas chief officers can hire and fire, the art of successful political leadership means carefully navigating a range of diverse individuals in one’s group, as well as working successfully with officers. Knowing when to listen and when to lead is vital.
2. Knowing when to delegate matters. This allows leaders to focus on the strategic vision and priorities for their authority, but also provides roles for the wide range of individuals they have to work with
3. Clear relationships with officers. While both officers and members often regard each other as a breed apart, what is clear is that where things work best, they operate with mutual respect
4. Deal-making is a key skill, both formally and informally. Many leaders regard themselves as ‘deal makers’, and brokering without formal power structures is becoming more important.
5. Visibility is key. As with the best chief executives, the best leaders understand the importance of a providing visible leadership.
6. It’s a full-time job... and then some. A common frustration is the amount of time given over to administrative tasks and the challenges in ensuring a work-life balance.
7. Many never expected to be leaders of their authority. Motivations may be different from those of officers. Many we spoke to are ambitious for their area, but less so for themselves.
In all this, managing relationships is key. In future, gut instinct alone will still matter, but the most impressive will be systematic in their handling of these ‘soft’ issues.
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