Monique Davidson’s Post

Leadership in action. Monique Davidson shares powerful truths about what it takes to lead effectively in local government, and we couldn’t agree more. Staying connected and focused on what truly matters to your community is essential. But ensuring that energy and resources align to your council’s purpose and goals isn't a one-time exercise - it's an on-going commitment. That’s where the power of a continuous feedback loop comes in. Asking, listening, taking action, and measuring the impact - then doing it again. This cycle is what builds trust, strengthens engagement, and drives real outcomes for communities. As councils plan for 2025 and beyond - these aren’t just helpful reminders - they’re essential for building thriving communities. Jordan Stevens Chris O'Reilly Natalie Fry Jared Ingle #LocalGovernment #EmployeeEngagement #ThrivingCommunities #DataDrivenDecisions

Leaders in local government across the UK are navigating a storm of unprecedented challenges. 🌪️ A staggering 75% of council leaders identify finance and budgeting as significant concerns, with almost half highlighting rising demand for services as a critical issue. (Source: Local Government Association) 🌪️One in four councils are reportedly at risk of financial collapse within the next two years. (Source: The Times) But what is the human cost of working in this high-pressure environment? What impact does it have on individuals and teams—and how can we equip people to manage this pressure and thrive despite it? We’ve developed a framework to empower leaders in local government. This approach goes beyond managing pressure—it's about unlocking strengths, creating pathways to resilience, and fostering sustainable growth. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/endjhTn8

THINKING ABOUT JOINING A NEW GOVERNOR'S CABINET? READ THIS FIRST. For state agency leaders, the call to serve can come at any moment - even during Thanksgiving week. Margaret Busse got the call while boarding a plane to Tanzania. Cara Christ, MD, MS was at Disneyland. Tracy Gruber was waiting in line for a ski lift. You might not know when the call will come—but you CAN start thinking about how you’ll respond. Leading a state agency is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a massive impact. Education agency leaders shape the future for millions of children. Transportation agency leaders keep entire states moving. Social services agency leaders transform health outcomes for your state’s most vulnerable citizens. But regardless of how talented you are, this job isn’t a fit for everyone. The hours are long, the pressure is relentless, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A single decision could mean the difference between life and death—or the next day’s headlines. And the sacrifices aren’t just professional—they’re personal. Late-night calls, legislative hearings, and agency crises don’t take breaks for family dinners or weekends. Before you say yes, you need to ask yourself: (1) Am I ready for this level of commitment? (2) Can my family support me in this role? In the next few posts, we’ll explore what potential Cabinet picks should consider before saying “yes” to the job.  Stay tuned for more insights, or jump ahead by getting the full State Government Playbook here: https://lnkd.in/gSTAkV6y #transitionteam #governmentleadership #stategovernmentleaderplaybook #governmentexecutivecoach

What does resetting relationships between levels of government actually look like? Presented in partnership with Victorian Local Governance Association and hosted by Chris Eddy, Chief Executive Sam Plum opened this morning's Global Local Executive Series with a fascinating insight on the role of local government leadership in the re-organisation and creation of Westmorland and Furness Council. Leading re-organisation through the pandemic, Sam outlined how a toolkit of culture, values and behaviours was imperative to uniting a new workforce and instilling a strong public and community voice to put residents at the heart. Speaking about the success Team Barrow has experienced, Sam focused on the importance of shared missions and visions through a trilateral partnership between central government, Westmorland and Furness Council, and BAE Systems, aimed at enabling Barrow to be a new "powerhouse for the north". Next up, Clifford Eberly looked at the systems changes in local government and the impact of shifts towards wellbeing governance and early interventions. Focusing on the trends of governance systems from command and control to community-led continuous improvement and future-proofing, Cliff gave a holistic overview of structural factors affecting local government relations. For example, work at the Centre for Policy Development touched on the Southern Initiatives in New Zealand and the Wigan Deal to give examples of the new ways to deliver public services through a social contract with council and community. Finally, LGIU Chief Executive Jonathan Carr-West spoke of our recent LGIU@40 research For the Future of Local Government. Speaking to Council Leaders and Chief Executives across the UK, Jonathan emphasised the role of contradictions in trust. Despite local government receiving higher levels of trust from communities than central government, this sector-wide research highlighted the parent-child attitudes of central government to local government, a theme which translates into centralised systems of local government finance. With the General Election only days away, Jonathan gave a quick snapshot of our working analysing party manifestos the implications of what a new Government holds for local government and the aspirations for connected localism. Sign-up below to join the LGIU community and access essential local government resources! 👉 https://lgiu.org/sign-up/ 👉 LGIU Manifesto, For the Future of local government https://lnkd.in/eT5v3VPF 👉 Southern Initiatives - Anchor Approaches: Collaborations in practice https://lnkd.in/gFn6YrvB 👉Verity House Agreement https://lnkd.in/eseXDrif 👉 Central local relations in Northern Ireland https://lnkd.in/epK-ECMz Chris Eddy Kathryn Arndt Jonathan Carr-West Sam Plum Alison Hatcher

Walking the Talk: Oyebanji’s Unspoken Triumphs After Two Years in the Saddle By: Femi Esan In politics, promises are often abundant, but the real measure of leadership lies in the ability to deliver. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, in just two years of his administration, has not only fulfilled his electoral promises but has also made significant strides in areas that often go unspoken. While his administration’s milestones may not always dominate public discourse, the underlying impact of his governance strategy is unmistakable. With a focus on infrastructure development, human capital enhancement, and economic diversification, Oyebanji has pursued a pragmatic approach to governance, ensuring that policy implementation translates into real and measurable improvements in the lives of the people. This results-oriented leadership has cemented his place as a governor who is more concerned with action than rhetoric, and in doing so, he has garnered the admiration of stakeholders across the state. One of the most significant, yet understated, achievements of the Oyebanji administration is the peace and stability that have defined Ekiti’s socio-political landscape over the past two years. This climate of tranquility is the product of a carefully crafted governance style rooted in inclusivity and stakeholder engagement. Governor Oyebanji has consistently prioritized dialogue, ensuring that all critical actors, ranging from traditional rulers, political elites, civil society organizations, to grassroots mobilizers are actively involved in decision-making processes. Cultivating a governance culture that values inclusiveness, the governor has mitigated potential flashpoints of conflict and created a conducive atmosphere for development initiatives to thrive. Central to this success is Governor Oyebanji’s ability to leverage the goodwill he built long before and upon assuming office. His administration has deftly managed relationships with both political allies and adversaries, ensuring that governance transcends partisan considerations. The governor’s dexterity in navigating the complex political terrain has helped to preserve the state’s internal cohesion, even in the face of occasional dissenting views. His capacity to maintain constructive engagement with opposition figures and other non-aligned stakeholders has proven essential in fostering the kind of collaborative governance that keeps the state on a steady path toward progress. Furthermore, the governor’s outreach to external stakeholders has been a hallmark of his administration’s success... Read More: https://lnkd.in/etiJvwmD

New Purpose Research! Conducted with help from our friends 🤝 We’re grateful to have partnered with Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC), The Directors College, The Chartered Governance Institute of Canada, Watson Board Advisors, Competent Boards and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on our latest research report. Thanks to this collaboration, our team surveyed nearly 200 corporate directors and governance professionals from different sectors to look at the nature of their boards’ oversight of purpose and the challenges they’ve faced in taking on this role. If you’ve been exploring how purpose can be governed at your organization, our findings will leave you with a better understanding of the state of this work: https://lnkd.in/evY9SQ88 #Purpose #SocialPurpose #PurposeEconomy #BoardGovernance #BoardGuidance #SocialResponsibility #BoardResources #PurposeGovernance

5 reasons you should invest in a workshop to understand and navigate Canadian governments: 1️⃣ Better Decision Making: A deep understanding of Canadian #political structures, processes, and key issues empowers your team to make informed decisions aligned with your organizational #objectives. 2️⃣ Improved Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging actively with government entities, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders is pivotal to creating #impact. 3️⃣ Managing Crises Changes in #government (hello federal election!) can create organizational instability especially if we rely on these relationships for funding and other supports. By preparing your team to anticipate and respond to new #policy developments, you strengthen your organization’s resilience against unexpected disruptions and ensure long-term stability. 4️⃣ Securing Funding Understanding new political mandates allows for opportunities to identify new and emerging #funding to strengthen your operations and improve #servicedelivery. 5️⃣ Developing Strategic Relationships In a competitive marketplace, relationships are power. Developing strategic connects with those inside government is a skill set that could help to future-proof your organization. A change in government is a perfect time to develop new alliances. Staying informed on political developments is essential for active decision-making, #strategic #analysis, and #business growth. If you want to learn more, check out this interactive virtual workshop on December 5th, 2024 *** Who should register: • nonprofit leaders/charities • academia • industry • government Key takeaways: • identifying shifts in federal #funding priorities • key elements of effective #grant writing • #advocacy essentials/relationship building Registration information in poster below.

This is happening, friends, colleagues, peers, people who care. There is great work underway to accelerate Social Purpose in Business! Join this free webinar to learn how Boards have an important role in advancing Purpose for an organization.

NEW: We’re delighted to announce that former Deputy Cabinet Secretary Helen MacNamara is joining The Future Governance Forum (FGF) as our new Chair. Helen and Nathan Yeowell sat down with George Eaton to discuss FGF's plans and why our system of government needs a reset: https://t.co/v6vLiKkwKu In Helen, FGF is gaining a champion of the good that government can do. Her passion is rooted in her extensive expertise in public administration and unique insight into the inner workings of Whitehall. Helen will work with FGF founder and Executive Director Nathan Yeowell, and the rest of the FGF team on developing practical, innovative solutions crucial to addressing the acute delivery challenges facing the new government. Helen’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for FGF, as we set out plans to grow our network – the forum at the heart of our project – and adopt an ever more practical focus. Plans include a new emphasis on: 1️⃣ Good governance in practice – stepping up our work by not only developing ideas, but testing and iterating them in practice, collaborating with practitioners at all levels of government and beyond 2️⃣ Forging stronger links with frontline expertise – a new, influential network of reform-minded politicians, policymakers, leaders and frontline public servants to exchange insights and refine our thinking 3️⃣ Institutional renewal – looking afresh at how we rewire the state and its institutions to ensure they are fit to meet the challenges of the 21st century When FGF was launched in November 2023, we set out our intention to help fix Britain’s broken system of government, and shape a comprehensive new operating model for the way the country works. In under a year, FGF has published influential research on: 🎯 Mission-driven government, partnering with Professor Mariana Mazzucato 🏛️ Implementing economic devolution, with Metro Dynamics 💰 Innovative new models of investment to drive growth 🤝 The transition of power As we enter our second year, we want to build on this success, combining strong frontline experience of what works with a nuanced understanding of the political context. With a new progressive government in Westminster, FGF has a unique opportunity to change the way the country is governed. With Helen as our new Chair, we’re well placed to make it happen, and couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. If you have any thoughts, suggestions or ideas for how you could work with us towards our mission of #ShapingBritainsFuture, we’d love to hear from you. 📩 Please get in touch at [email protected]

ICYMI last week: I'm thrilled to share the latest report from The Future Governance Forum (FGF) and UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) - 'Mission Critical 01: Statecraft for the 21st Century', a groundbreaking report from Mariana Mazzucato, Sarah Doyle, Nick Kimber, Daniel Wainwright and Grace Wyld. Published in partnership with IIPP, 'Mission Critical' offers a clear plan for effecting a mission-driven approach across government. It lays out concrete recommendations for how the next government can transform missions rhetoric into a bold, long-term programme for government, tackling the complex generational challenges facing Britain today. My headline takeaways: 1️⃣ Establish missions as the top priority for government – foster genuine cross-departmental collaboration, driving mission delivery across Whitehall with a properly empowered Missions Unit 2️⃣ Set bold, long-term goals, spurring action and innovation 3️⃣ Orchestrate collaboration across sectors, tiers of government and Whitehall itself, but leave space for innovation and experimentation 4️⃣ Build a coalition of the willing, getting public-buy in by nailing your narrative and keeping the language tangible 5️⃣ Invest in governing capabilities, building a public sector with the capabilities to meet the challenges of the 21st century 6️⃣ Adopt a more human-centric, digital-first approach to policy design 7️⃣ Catalyse private investment (by updating the Treasury’s mandate and refreshing our financial institutions), directing it towards mission goals For more, take a look at the report below. Or check out this handy summary blog from FGF’s Grace Wyld for a quick rundown on what we’re proposing >> https://lnkd.in/ew3pe2mh Read the report >>  https://lnkd.in/e7-nZJbT