Leading Together: Strengthening Governance and Council-Staff Relationships

Best for: Mayors, deputy mayors, councillors, CAOs, clerks, city managers, treasurers, senior leaders and department heads.

The start of a new council term is the best time to clarify expectations, reset working relationships and prevent avoidable conflict. This interactive program helps council and senior staff build a shared understanding of their respective roles, manage disagreement constructively and work collaboratively under the pressures that come with municipal leadership. Participants explore the practical tensions that often arise between governance and operations, including public scrutiny, competing priorities, community expectations, confidentiality obligations and the need to maintain productive relationships even when there is disagreement.

The program is designed to be practical rather than theoretical. Through discussion and municipal examples, participants consider how expectations can be set early, how conflict can be addressed before it becomes entrenched, and how council and staff can preserve effective working relationships while fulfilling distinct roles. It is particularly useful for municipalities that want to establish a healthier tone at the beginning of a term or strengthen existing council-staff relationships before issues escalate.

Program agenda:
• Roles and responsibilities of council, the mayor, CAO and staff
• How governance expectations can prevent avoidable conflict
• Respectful debate, disagreement and difficult conversations
• Common pressure points in council-staff relationships
• Building trust, accountability and productive working relationships over the council term

Participants leave with:
• A clearer understanding of governance boundaries and decision-making roles
• Practical tools for managing conflict and public pressure constructively
• Shared language for accountability, civility and effective municipal leadership

Date & Cost: Upon request