City Manager Philosophy
I am sometimes asked about my management philosophy: do I actually have an overall management approach or do I just make things up as I go along?
I must confess that I do have a written philosophy and I have it framed and sitting on my desk as a reminder of the management values that are important to me. In a nutshell, my role as city manager is to “Envision – Align – Empower.” My job is to see that the city organization focuses on doing the right things and doing them well, by seeing to the success of others.
My philosophy is based on seven core values:
- Be proactive.
- Focus on the circle of influence
- Focus on the mental creation that precedes the physical creation
- Re-write the questions – reframe the problem
- Plan for the future – savor the moment.
- Manage processes not people.
- Focus on the design of organizational systems and structures
- Identify the high impact system leverage points
- Manage the interfaces and intervals
- Seek opportunities to continually improve
- Seek input.
- Develop processes to gain input
- Treat all people fairly and with respect
- Think win-win
- Value differences
- Believe and search for the third alternative
- Focus on desired outcomes and end results.
- Focus on the big rocks-the wildly important goals
- Align work processes with priorities
- Improve work flows and processes
- “What gets measured, gets accomplished”
- Listen carefully and communicate well.
- Seek first to understand, then be understood
- Remember that information is the life blood of government
- Communicate horizontally and vertically
- Communicate informally and formally
- Make expectations clear and expect accountability.
- Ensure written, measurable, deadline-driven work goals
- Clearly define mutual responsibilities and confirm they’re understood
- Create a scorecard
- Hold everyone accountable all of the time for success of the group
- Be flexible and adaptive.
- Learn from experience, especially mistakes
- Be open to opportunities to move key goals forward
- Have a Plan B
In addition to my management philosophy, I am also guided by a personal mission statement that I developed and refined years ago. It is simple and straight-forward: “Seek wisdom. Share love. Do good.”
If, when all is said and done, I can come close to this, I will be content.
My best wishes to everyone for a successful and fulfilling 2011. Go Badgers!