The Power of Small Wins: Building Momentum in City Leadership

Incremental Progress Fuels Lasting Change

While city government leaders may have big ideas for their community, whether it is to improve public safety, revitalize an area of town, build new roads, etc., progress toward these lofty ideas are rarely immediate. Instead, creating positive change in a community takes time, usually months and/or years, which can be discouraging if there has been little progress made along the way. It is easy to lose steam during the long journey to achieve the desired outcome; however, focusing on recognizing and acknowledging smaller accomplishments, those small but important advances toward the bigger picture will help keep the team motivated and focused on achieving the larger goal. The authors of "The Progress Principle" by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer (2011) explain that while there are many things that motivate employees at work, the most powerful motivator is knowing that you are making progress toward your goals (Amabile & Kramer, 2011a). Every small accomplishment helps reinforce the idea that efforts lead to tangible results, helping to promote both motivation and employee engagement.

How Small Wins Drive Big Change: The Momentum Every City Needs

The small wins achieved by municipal departments are the unseen engines of continued growth and development. By streamlining its permitting process, a department can, complete a park renovation prior to an anticipated completion date, or increase community meeting attendance; while these may be small wins, they create a momentum of positive feedback loops which generate progress, pride, and productivity. Research has shown that celebrating incremental progress triggers the dopamine pathways in the brain associated with rewards and motivation, promoting productivity and persistent effort (Amabile & Kramer, 2011b). Researchers at Harvard Summer School also report that acknowledging progress often fosters sustained energy and assists in focusing employees on longer term objectives. In city management, this leads to increased follow-through, improved employee morale, and increased public trust when citizens perceive their municipality as steadily advancing toward collective community objectives.

The Emotional Payoff of Appreciation at Work

Appreciating employees' achievements can have a significant emotional payoff for them as they do their jobs in the public service. The emotional payoff can be greater in the public se