Growing Together: The Flight Path of Municipal Leadership

Municipal government leadership requires more than just knowledge of public administration. It requires the ability to adapt, grow, and evolve with one's team. This is a concept that is often overlooked in leadership discussions, yet it is instrumental in driving the success of a team, department, or an entire municipality.

Interestingly enough, my most profound lesson in leadership growth came not from a city hall, but from a military base in Korea. At Kunsan Air Base, I was tasked with leading a newly formed flight–a group of individuals who were considered "problem children" by their previous leaders. This was a challenge, no doubt. However, what made the difference was not my ability to manage them. Instead, it was my commitment to grow with them.

At our first meeting, I was honest about their circumstances. I acknowledged that they had been sent to this new flight because no one else wanted them. But importantly, I also made it clear that I wanted them, and that I was ready to grow with them. This shared growth journey was what turned our ragtag group into the most efficient, tightest-working flight on the base. Not because I had all the answers, but because I was willing to learn, adapt, and evolve with them.

This experience taught me several invaluable lessons about leadership growth. First, a leader must continue to grow. If they don't, their team will either plateau or outgrow them. Second, when a leader grows, they encourage their team to do the same. It sets a tone of continued learning and improve