Gov360

Chris Mann
  • 4.5 (8)
  • GOVERNMENT

Your Full Circle View on Local Government Leadership Hosted by City Manager Chris Mann, Gov360 goes beyond policy to reveal the real human experience of leading in local government. Each episode features honest conversations about the pressures, politics, breakthroughs, and personal stories that define public service today. Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession. From navigating community conflict and crisis to building trust, surviving misinformation, managing burnout, and leading with courage when the spotlight gets harsh, Gov360 offers insights you won’t find in a textbook or a conference breakout session. Whether you’re a city manager, rising administrator, elected official, or simply passionate about strong communities, Gov360 gives you the real-world wisdom, practical tools, and leadership mindset needed to thrive in local government. Stay informed. Stay inspired. Lead boldly — only on Gov360.

  1. 3D AGO

    When Departments Break: Why Local Government Employees are Leaving | Ep.22

    Departments don’t usually fail all at once. They break quietly, then suddenly. Across local government, employees are leaving, burnout is rising, and many leaders don’t realize a department is broken until it’s too late. It starts subtly. One resignation that doesn’t get filled. One burned-out employee holding everything together. One leader hoping the team can just push through. Until one day, the department stops functioning and everyone wonders how it got there. Across local government, vacancies are lingering longer. Institutional knowledge is walking out the door. And in too many organizations, the warning signs are either missed or rationalized away. That raises critical questions for leaders: What does a truly broken department look like from the inside? Why are people really leaving? What does it take to rebuild trust, culture, and momentum once things begin to fall apart? In this episode of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann sits down with Sophia Selivanoff and Ashley Metzger of Regional Government Services (RGS), a public agency that works with cities, counties, and special districts during moments of transition, instability, and organizational strain. Together, they explore what broken departments feel like for the people inside them, why employees often trust outsiders more than their own supervisors with the truth, and how leaders can recognize the warning signs before disengagement becomes collapse. This conversation also examines the emotional toll these moments take on leaders, why asking for help can feel so difficult, and how organizations can begin to recover when trust has eroded and hope has faded. ⸻ We unpack: ✅ The difference between a busy department and a broken one ✅ The quiet warning signs leaders often rationalize away ✅ Why employees stop speaking up in struggling organizations ✅ The real reasons people are leaving local government ✅ What burnout, disengagement, and loss of hope look like from the inside ✅ Why outside support can create the first real opening for recovery ✅ How Regional Government Services helps agencies navigate instability ✅ The concept of fractional leadership in local government ✅ Why rebuilding trust, not just filling vacancies, is the real work ✅ Why there is still reason for optimism about the future ⸻ Broken departments are not personal failures. But rebuilding them requires courage, humility, and intentional leadership. For many city managers and department heads, these moments become the defining tests of their careers. If your organization feels stretched, fractured, or on the brink, this episode offers perspective and a path forward. ⸻ ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eTCDXyVjHE4 ⸻ Resources Mentioned in This Episode Gov360 Ep.7 with Jacob Green titled "Should You Leave Local Government?": https://youtu.be/VJGEfRkCpBY?si=ts6hruBaTtMdxdTR Regional Government Services: https://rgsjpa.org Sophia Selivanoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-selivanoff-259a1123/ Ashley Metzger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-metzger-8a66105b/  ⸻ Chapters 0:00 Cold Open: When Departments Quietly Start to Break 1:21 When a Department Is in Trouble, Not Just Busy 4:35 Why Staff Tell Outsiders the Truth First 8:28 Why People Are Really Leaving Local Government 13:01 What a Broken Department Feels Like for Employees 16:55 When Leaders Ask for Help and What RGS Actually Does 25:51 Fractional Leadership and Shared Executive Support 30:26 CalPERS, Flexibility, and the Modern Workforce 38:18 Why Sophia and Ashley Joined RGS 43:35 When Should a City Call RGS? 47:30 Is There Still Hope for Local Government? 49:58 How Leaders Rebuild Purpose, Progress, and Trust 54:04 Why Local Government Must Tell Its Story Better 59:28 Final Takeaway: Broken Departments Can Recover ⸻ Links & Resources 👉 Explore Gov360 Episodes and Resources: https://www.chrismann.us/gov360 📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76 📬 Subscribe to the Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7320606146577186817/ 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Spotify:   https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa 💻 Website: https://www.chrismann.us ⸻ About Gov360 Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.

    1h 1m

  2. MAR 17

    Is the Council-Manager Model Buckling in Today’s Politicized Era? | Ep.21

    For more than a century, the council–manager form of government has been one of the most successful governance innovations in American public administration. It professionalized local government. It separated politics from administration. And it allowed cities to focus on service delivery, financial stewardship, and long-term community planning. But today, the political environment surrounding local government is changing. Across the country, the tenure of professional city managers is shortening. Public scrutiny is intensifying. Political polarization is filtering down into local debates. And in some places, leaders are beginning to ask whether professional administrators should run government at all. In Los Angeles County, voters have already approved a major governance shift that will replace a professional administrative structure with an elected county executive by 2028. In San Diego County, similar conversations about charter reform and executive leadership are beginning to surface. These debates raise a fundamental question for the profession: Is the council–manager model beginning to face structural pressure in a political environment that is changing faster than the model was designed for? In this solo episode of Gov360, Chris Mann examines the governance debates unfolding in Los Angeles and San Diego and explores what they may signal for the future of professional city management. This episode is an examination of how political environments shape governance structures, and what happens when those environments begin to shift. We explore the history of the council–manager model, why it became the dominant form of municipal government in the United States, and why the political dynamics surrounding local government today may be testing some of the assumptions that once sustained it. This conversation is intended for serious practitioners across local government: city managers, assistant managers, department heads, analysts, and emerging executives who care about the future of professional public administration. Chris unpacks: ✅ How the council–manager form of government emerged during the Progressive Era ✅ Why professional administration became the dominant municipal governance model ✅ What the governance reforms in Los Angeles County could mean for the future of local government leadership ✅ Why conversations about an elected county executive are beginning to surface in San Diego County ✅ How declining institutional trust is reshaping expectations for government leadership ✅ Why political volatility is making professional administration more exposed ✅ Where organizations like ICMA may play an important role in helping explain the value of professional local government management The council–manager model remains the most widely used municipal governance system in the United States. Thousands of cities rely on professional administrators to manage complex organizations and deliver essential public services. But institutional models do not operate in isolation. They operate inside political environments. And those environments are changing. ⸻ ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EuImK6NOqRM ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Introduction: A City Manager’s Sudden Termination 01:32 A Growing Pattern in Local Government Leadership 03:05 What the Council–Manager Form of Government Is 04:18 Why the Model Professionalized Local Government 05:03 A Major Governance Shift in Los Angeles County 06:32 Measure G and the Move Toward an Elected Executive 08:02 Why Some Leaders Want Structural Change 09:30 Risks of Politicizing Public Administration 11:05 Could Professional City Management Disappear? 12:36 San Diego County Considering Similar Changes 14:05 The Political Environment Around Local Government 15:58 Watch Episode 20: Competence Is No Longer Enough 16:25 Where Has ICMA Been in This Conversation? 18:08 What Happens If the Council–Manager Model Weakens 20:02 Why Professional Administration Still Matters 22:15 Protecting the Profession Going Forward 24:05 Final Thoughts on Leadership in a Politicized Era 25:25 Closing Message ⸻ Links & Resources 📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76   💻 Chris’ Blog and Professional Website: https://www.chrismann.us   📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7320606146577186817/   🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614   🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa ⸻ About Gov360 Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession. ⸻ Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManagement, CouncilManager, PublicAdministration, MunicipalLeadership, ProfessionalManagement, LocalGov, PublicServiceLeadership, GovernmentLeadership, Gov360

    26 min

  3. FEB 24

    Competence Is No Longer Enough: The Quiet Shift in Local Government Leadership | Ep.20

    Competence used to be enough. Master the craft. Stay neutral. Deliver results. Let the work speak for itself. For decades, that formula sustained careers across local government. Today, it often doesn’t. In this solo episode of Gov360, Chris Mann explores the quiet but profound shift reshaping local government leadership. This is not a critique of the profession. It is not an indictment of elected officials. And it is not a collection of war stories. It is an examination of patterns. Council turnover is accelerating. Term limits are more common. District-based elections are reshaping political incentives. Social media compresses judgment cycles. Narrative increasingly outpaces performance. Neutrality is sometimes misread as disengagement. Silence is sometimes interpreted as absence. The rules did not change overnight. They changed quietly. And many highly competent professionals are discovering that the model they were trained in no longer protects them. This episode examines what changed, why capable leaders are being caught off guard, and what the modern professional reality now requires. It is grounded, analytical, and intended for serious practitioners across local government — not just city managers, but department heads, analysts, assistant managers, and emerging executives. This conversation is about durability. Chris unpacks: ✅ Why the traditional “competence and neutrality” model made sense in a different era ✅ How term limits and district elections are reshaping council dynamics ✅ Why institutional memory is shorter — and why that matters ✅ The rise of narrative politics and the compression of trust-building windows ✅ How professionals can adapt without abandoning ethics or professionalism ✅ Why political literacy, narrative awareness, and relationship stewardship are now executive disciplines This episode is for you if: • You are a local government professional sensing that expectations have shifted • You are an aspiring executive preparing for long-term leadership • You have experienced career whiplash despite strong performance • You want to lead with integrity while understanding modern political realities Competence still matters. It always will. But in today’s environment, it must be paired with awareness, judgment, and intentional relationship management — not to play politics, but to remain effective long enough to keep serving.   ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y1Ba0AhPomQ ⸻ Chapters: 0:00 There are city managers about to lose their jobs 1:12 The belief that competence protects you 3:05 The professional formula we were taught 5:40 Why that model once worked 8:10 What quietly changed in local government 10:25 Council turnover, term limits, and district elections 12:50 Narrative politics vs. performance metrics 15:05 The cost of not adapting 17:40 Misread loyalty and career shock 19:30 Political literacy without becoming political 21:20 Relationship stewardship as strategy 23:10 When silence protects you — and when it hurts 24:40 Final reflections — competence still matters ⸻  📚 Links & Resources: 📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76 💻 Chris’ Blog and Professional Website: https://www.chrismann.us  📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7320606146577186817/ 🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa ⸻ 🗣️ About Gov360: Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession. ⸻ Tags: LocalGovernment, PublicAdministration, CityManagement, LeadershipDevelopment, Gov360, PublicServiceLeadership, MunicipalLeadership, CouncilManager, ProfessionalManagement, LocalGov

    26 min

  4. FEB 3

    Becoming a City Manager: Lessons in Resilience, Leadership, and Longevity with Joe Turner | Ep.19

    There is no single path to the city manager’s chair. Some arrive through planning or finance. Others through engineering or public safety. And some come through politics, communications, or advocacy. In this episode of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann reflects on his personal journey into professional management and the lessons he wishes someone had shared earlier. In a candid conversation with Joe Turner on the City Manager Unfiltered Podcast, Chris unpacks what it really takes to not only become a city manager, but to stay effective, resilient, and credible over time. This episode is not about titles or résumés. It is about mindset, durability, and navigating a profession where leadership is constantly tested—often quietly, and often unfairly. Chris and Joe explore how early career experiences shape executive leadership, why personal branding is no longer optional for city managers, and how professionals can protect their reputation and longevity in a highly visible, politicized environment.   This is not career coaching. It is lived experience from inside the chair.   You’ll hear Chris unpack: ✅ The realities of the road to the city manager role—beyond job descriptions and interviews ✅ Why resilience matters more than raw competence in local government leadership ✅ How political exposure and public visibility can strengthen, not undermine, professional credibility ✅ The role personal branding plays in protecting reputation, clarity, and career longevity ✅ Common mistakes city managers make when trying to stay “invisible” instead of intentional ✅ Why leadership endurance—not perfection—is the real measure of success in the profession   This episode is for you if: • You aspire to become a city manager and want a realistic picture of the journey • You are a new or mid-career executive navigating pressure, scrutiny, and expectations • You are questioning how visible, vocal, or “branded” a city manager should be • You want to lead with integrity while still protecting your professional future   Chris closes with a grounded reflection on why the city manager role is not just about technical skill, but about identity, discipline, and emotional endurance—and why those who last are rarely the loudest, but almost always the most intentional.   ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GuKwiHaJL6I    📚 Links & Resources:   🎙️City Manager Unfiltered Podcast:  https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/   📲 Connect with Joe Turner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/citymanager   🇺🇸 American Association of Municipal Executives: https://community.aame.org/   📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76/    💻 Chris’ Blog and Professional Website: https://www.chrismann.us    📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817    🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614    🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa   🗣️ About Gov360: Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.   Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManager, CityManagement, Leadership, Gov360, PublicService, ProfessionalManagement, CouncilManager, ResilientLeadership, CareerLongevity

    1h 5m

  5. JAN 20

    Is City Management Still Worth It? – Purpose, Impact, and Meaning in a Demanding Field | Ep.18

    If you spend enough time in city management or local government leadership, you will eventually ask a quiet but unavoidable question: Is this still worth it? Not necessarily in a moment of crisis. Not only after a bad meeting. But after years of responsibility, pressure, restraint, and service—when the weight of the job begins to compete with the meaning that first drew you to it. In this solo episode of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann steps back from tactics and survival strategies to reflect on something deeper: why city management still matters, why the work is still meaningful, and why—despite everything—the profession is still worth it. Drawing on lived experience across elected office, private-sector work, and multiple city manager roles, Chris reflects on the moments that shaped his commitment to public service—from seeing a park filled with families months after a quiet council vote, to navigating structural budget deficits, political turbulence, and ultimately a highly public departure that clarified more than it diminished. This episode is not a defense of the profession. It is not nostalgia. And it is not motivational fluff. It is a grounded, honest reflection from someone who has seen both the best and hardest chapters of local government leadership—and chosen to stay clear-eyed about the cost and the value of the work. This episode explores: • Why so many capable, principled professionals are questioning the sustainability of city management • How the job has changed—and why burnout is not a failure of commitment • The difference between comfort, stability, and meaning in a leadership career • What city management uniquely offers that few other professions can • Why political pressure, public criticism, and uncertainty do not negate the value of the work • How losing illusions can actually strengthen purpose and perspective • What it really means to measure a career by integrity, stewardship, and impact Chris also reflects on what the profession needs now—not martyrdom, not silence, and not retreat—but grounded leaders who understand the tradeoffs and still choose service with intention. This episode is for you if: • You are a city manager, assistant/deputy city manager, or department director feeling the weight of the role • You are mid-career and questioning long-term sustainability • You are early in your journey and want an honest picture of what this profession demands—and gives back • You have been through a hard chapter and are trying to reconnect with purpose • You care deeply about local government and want reassurance that the work still matters   🎥 Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lYO-qq9K7EU   📚 Links & Resources: 📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76/ 💻 Chris’ Blog and Professional Website: https://www.chrismann.us 📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817 🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa   ⸻ 🗣️ About Gov360 Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.   Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManagement, CityManager, Leadership, PublicService, Gov360, CouncilManager, LocalLeadership, PublicAdministration, ResilientLeadership

    12 min

  6. JAN 6

    When the Council Turns: 7 Rules for Surviving Political Power Shifts | Ep.17

    If you work in local government long enough, you will experience political change. Elections happen. Majorities shift. New voices come in with new priorities. But what happens when that change suddenly alters your footing—when the ground beneath you shifts, trust thins, and you realize your role is being quietly re-evaluated? In this solo episode of Gov360, City Manager Chris Mann offers a calm, experience-based field guide for navigating sudden political power shifts inside City Hall. Drawing on hard-earned lessons—including a personal failure that played a significant role in finding himself unexpectedly “in transition”—Chris breaks down what really happens when a council turns, and how leaders can protect their credibility, composure, and options when alignment changes. This is not theory. It is what political power shifts actually look like in local government. You’ll hear Chris unpack: ✅ How political change shows up internally long before it is acknowledged out loud ✅ The early warning signs professionals often rationalize away ✅ Why logic, performance, and professionalism alone do not guarantee protection ✅ The most common mistakes leaders make when the ground starts to shift ✅ How a single emotionally driven reaction can permanently alter trust and outcomes Chris also shares seven clear rules for surviving political power shifts, grounded in lived experience rather than abstract advice:           1. Assume the environment has changed—because it has.           2. Stop explaining yourself to feel safe.           3. Recognize that professionalism is the floor, not the shield.           4. Manage relationships one person at a time.           5. Do not become reactive—become predictable.           6. Protect the institution, not your ego.           7. Always be preparing—quietly. This episode is for you if: • You are a city manager, assistant/deputy city manager, or department director sensing that political dynamics have shifted. • You are an aspiring executive who wants to understand the realities no one teaches you. • You are currently navigating council turnover, elections, or a new majority. • You are “in between” and trying to make sense of how things unraveled—and what to do differently next time. Chris closes with a grounded reflection on why political change is not a personal failure, but a structural feature of the profession—and why preparation, discipline, and composure matter more than ever. ⸻ 📚Links & Resources: 🎥Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5h9hBotRmbU  📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76/ 💻 Chris' Blog and Professional Website: https://www.chrismann.us  📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817 🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa ⸻ 🗣️ About Gov360: Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.   Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManager, Leadership, Gov360, PublicService, CityHall, CityManagement, CouncilManager, PoliticalChange, ResilientLeadership

    17 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    A Christmas Replay: Timeless Lessons in City Management & Leadership | Ep.16

    What keeps city managers going when the pressure, politics, and public scrutiny feel relentless? In this special holiday episode of Gov360, host Chris Mann revisits a candid, wide-ranging conversation with Joe Turner, founder of the American Association of Municipal Executives and host of the City Manager Unfiltered podcast, and Will Kolbow, City Manager of Calimesa, California. Originally recorded as part of the award-winning Yucaipa 360 podcast, this discussion remains as timely today as when it first aired. Together, these three city managers reflect on the realities of the profession, the different paths that lead to the city manager’s chair, and why—despite the risks and sacrifices—local government leadership still matters. From unconventional career journeys and first-time city manager experiences, to executive compensation, public trust, misinformation, and the evolving role of podcasts in government communication, this episode offers an honest look at what it really means to lead in local government. Whether you’re early in your career, sitting in the city manager’s chair, or questioning whether the profession is still worth it, this conversation provides perspective, encouragement, and reassurance that you’re not alone. ⸻ 🔑 Key Learnings: • There is no single “right” path to becoming a city manager • The city manager works for the City Council, not directly for the public • Executive leadership in local government carries significant personal and professional risk • Strong financial and organizational fundamentals are critical to successful city management • Long-form communication builds trust in ways press releases and social media cannot • City managers need stronger peer support, advocacy, and professional community • Despite the challenges, local government leadership can be deeply fulfilling and impactful ⸻ 🎧 Featured Topics: • Traditional vs non-traditional paths to city management • The council-manager form of government explained • First-time city manager realities and learning curves • Being fired, career resilience, and professional recovery • Executive compensation and public perception • Why city managers need advocacy and support networks • The rise of podcasts as a public communication tool • Combating misinformation and social media toxicity • Why local government work still matters ⸻ 📚 Links & Resources: 🎙️ City Manager Unfiltered Podcast (Joe Turner): https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com 🏛️ American Association of Municipal Executives (AAME): https://aame.org 📲 Connect with Joe Turner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/citymanager/ 📲 Connect with Will Kolbow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-kolbow-icma-cm-8801098/ 📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76 📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817 🎙️ Subscribe to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa ⸻ 🗣️ About Gov360: Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.   Until next time, govern boldly my friends.   Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManager, Gov360, PublicService, MunicipalLeadership, CouncilManager, CityManagement, Leadership, PublicAdministration, CityManagers, GovPodcast, LocalGov

    1h 27m

  8. 12/09/2025

    What Keeps Us Up at Night: A Raw Roundtable on the Pressures of City Management | Ep.15

    City and county managers carry an extraordinary weight—public pressure, political conflict, community expectations, nonstop crises, and the quiet fear of what could go wrong next. Most of that burden stays hidden from view. But not today. In this special episode of Gov360, we flip the mic. Guest host Sam Toles, Founder & CEO of CiviSocial, steps into the host chair and interviews four veteran public sector leaders—Amanda Mack, Michael Paulhus, and Gov360’s own Chris Mann—in one of the most candid roundtables ever recorded on this show. This is not a policy discussion — it’s an honest conversation about the emotional, relational, and ethical burdens of leadership in the council–manager form of government.   You’ll hear the panel dive into: ✅ The constant fear of getting fired — and how that pressure affects decision-making ✅ How public expectations, media narratives, and the “fear of missing something” weigh on CAOs ✅ The emotional toll of dealing with challenging elected officials and high-stakes moments that stay with you ✅ The tug-of-war that comes from having experience as both an elected official and an administrator — and how that shapes expectations ✅ Why understanding the public’s perspective is essential to guiding and mentoring staff through difficult situations   The group also shares powerful insights for leaders at every level: 1. Build strong relationships early — trust equity makes the hard moments survivable. 2. Stay grounded in your values — especially when fear starts driving choices. 3. Embrace vulnerability — acknowledging fear helps leaders refocus and make better decisions. 4. Understand the political-administrative divide — especially if you’ve served in both roles. 5. Support your peers — several panelists note that these pressures are universal among managers.   This episode is for you if: • You’re a city manager, county manager, or any local government professional navigating political pressure or organizational strain. • You’re a councilmember seeking to understand what your manager carries behind the scenes. • You’re an emerging leader considering whether you’re ready for the responsibility of the “big chair.” • You’re feeling the weight of leadership and need to know you’re not alone. The conversation ends with a call to strengthen professional culture — to create environments where managers can be honest about the pressures they face, where support is intentional, and where courage isn’t punished but expected.   ⸻   📚 Links & Resources: Connect with: Sam Toles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samtoles1/  Amanda Mack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-mack-empa/  Michael Paulhus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltpaulhus/    Check out Sam's company, CiviSocial: https://civisocial.com  And Sam's new book, The Social Media Playbook for Local Elected Officials: https://a.co/d/8cOsOea    📲 Connect with Chris Mann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismann76/ 📬 Subscribe to the free Gov360 Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7320606146577186817 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I8iAfjx633U  🎙️ Listen to Gov360 on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gov360/id1807649614 🎧 Or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Rq8Hxqvx23OVL0H4bQdqa   ⸻   🗣️ About Gov360: Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession.   Tags: LocalGovernment, CityManager, Leadership, Gov360, PublicService, CityManagement, CouncilManager, ResilientLeadership, LocalGovLife, SamToles, AmandaMack, MichaelPaulhus

    1h 10m
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4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Your Full Circle View on Local Government Leadership Hosted by City Manager Chris Mann, Gov360 goes beyond policy to reveal the real human experience of leading in local government. Each episode features honest conversations about the pressures, politics, breakthroughs, and personal stories that define public service today. Gov360 is the show for local government professionals who want to lead with impact, master their craft, and rise to the top of the profession. From navigating community conflict and crisis to building trust, surviving misinformation, managing burnout, and leading with courage when the spotlight gets harsh, Gov360 offers insights you won’t find in a textbook or a conference breakout session. Whether you’re a city manager, rising administrator, elected official, or simply passionate about strong communities, Gov360 gives you the real-world wisdom, practical tools, and leadership mindset needed to thrive in local government. Stay informed. Stay inspired. Lead boldly — only on Gov360.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Mann
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Gov360

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