Pearl of Wisdom # 42 - Crisis

When your unit of local government is confronted with a crisis or an extremely difficult situation, trying to find a viable solution you can live with might be a lot easier if you ask yourself, "How would my mother or father handle this situation?"

Pearl of Wisdom # 41 - State Statutes

Following state statutes can often prevent you and your colleagues from solving the unique problems plaguing your unit of local government or community.  But rest assured, finding cost-effective ways or creating ways to resolve your unique local problems will never, ever be accepted as a valid excuse for not following state statutes.

Pearl of Wisdom # 40 - Who Can Do a Better Job?

Anyone can do a better job than you in local government provided they aren’t elected or appointed to your seat or position.

Pearl of Wisdom # 39 - Forgiveness

To err is human; however, most policy handbooks written by local units of government are designed in such a way that forgiveness is seldom allowed.

Pearl of Wisdom # 38 - Length of Meetings

Never delay scheduling the end of a board/council/borough/parish meeting. For the good of everyone in the room, keep your public meetings short and finish on time.

Pearl of Wisdom # 37 - Miscellaneous Issues

98% of the all the controversial and major issues your current public body will deal with during your term in office will be filed under "miscellaneous" five years from now.

Pearl of Wisdom # 36 - Pats on the Back

Never forget the pats on your back you receive from your constituents one day are just a few centimeters away from being voted out of office at the next election.

Pearl of Wisdom # 35 - Understanding Issues

As a duly elected or appointed local public official, you can only explain the complexities of the issues confronting your community to your local residents - you cannot understand the issues for them.

Pearl of Wisdom # 34 - Boring Employees

Public employees who spend all their time at work are typically not hard working ... they are boring.

Pearl of Wisdom # 33 - Project Accountability

Assigning two departments 100% of the responsibility for the completion of a specific function or special project in your unit of local government ensures that each department will have only 10% accountability if that function or project fails. 

Pearl of Wisdom # 32 - Leopard Spots

The only known way to change the spots on a leopard is to alter its DNA.  Unless you or one of your colleagues are genetic biologists, it is generally cheaper, quicker and wiser to get rid of a leopard with the wrong spots and replace it with a new leopard who has the spots where your unit of local government needs them.

Pearl of Wisdom # 31 - Motivated Staff

An uninspired, unmotivated, and untrained staff within a unit of local government costs more to maintain and operate than a local government staff that is motivated, inspired, and well-trained.

Pearl of Wisdom # 30 - Meeting Attire

Wearing bib overalls, flannel shirts, tennis shoes, DeKalb ball caps, Harley Davidson leather vests,  Hooter's or Jack Daniels T-shirts and plunging necklines, etc. seldom help to make a favorable impression when meeting with state officials, business leaders, or reporters from major media outlets.

Pearl of Wisdom # 29 - Walking with Your Employees

Don't walk in front of public employees - they may not follow you. Don't walk behind public employees - they may not know which way you want them to go. When you are a local government official, always walk beside your public employees and give them directions, advice, and feedback along the way.

Pearl of Wisdom # 28

It may be that your sole purpose as an elected officials is to lighten the load for others who live in your community.

Pearl of Wisdom # 27

As a local public official it is incumbant upon you that you learn as much as you can about how your unit of local government operates and functions, as well as all it's strenghts and weaknesses.  Public officials who only possess good intentions are absolutely worthless.  Its those Government Offcials with current knoweldge and hands-on experience who get things done and create the results a commumity needs and people will remember.

Pearl of Wisdom # 26

If you can't be kind when describing the values and strengths of one of your board/council colleagues in local government, at least have the decency to be extremely vague in your description.

Pearl of Wisdom # 25

Some mistakes we make in Local Government are too much fun to only make once.

Pearl of Wisdom # 24

You might not be the only person in the world, however for a handful of people in your community you do represent the world.

Pearl of Wisdom # 23

Try hard not to put both feet in your mouth at the same time when speaking in public, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

Pearl of Wisdom # 22

You seldom know when it will strike, but there definitely comes a critical moment in all public hearings when you begin to rehash the same point over and over and you begin to realize that nothing productive will occur during the rest of the public hearing

Pearl of Wisdom # 21

Most of the bad decisions you make while in public office will be the great stories you remember and often tell when you are out of local government.

Pearl of Wisdom # 20

Few things will be more frustrating than that moment during a public meeting when you realize the point you have been supporting is wrong

Pearl of Wisdom # 19

It’s a good idea to keep select key local resident's phone numbers in your phone just so you know which calls you do not want to answer when they call.

Pearl of Wisdom # 18

Following established current policies may not always be in the best interest and may not always get the job done

Pearl of Wisdom # 17

If it weren’t for the last minute, most local government budgets wouldn’t get approved.

Pearl of Wisdom # 16

The most successful people you will ever meet in government will be some of the most interesting people you will meet in your entire life.

Pearl of Wisdom # 15

During an election year, there are two basic rules to follow if you want to get elected or re-elected to a public office:

One:  Try to stay in the middle on all controversial issues

Two:  Don't go anywhere near the edges on controversial issues.

Pearl of Wisdom # 14

Silence can often be misunderstood but never, ever can it be misquoted.

Pearl of Wisdom # 13

Remember: You can only explain the issues affecting your community to your constituents ... and the other local residents. You can never understand the issues for them.

Pearl of Wisdom # 12

The consequences are significantly different if a Public Official shows apathy, sympathy or empathy. As a Local Government Official it is imperative you only convey empathy!

{P.S. If you don't know the difference please contact Local Government Resources and let us explain the difference. Email us at localgovt@betterpublicofficials.com}

Pearl of Wisdom # 11

In disagreements with your colleagues always fight fairly. Never resort to name calling.  

Pearl of Wisdom # 10

There is no excuse for ever being marked absent at a public meeting - if you can not make a meeting call ahead and explain to the meeting Chair why you won't be at the meeting and ask to be recognized as excused.

Pearl of Wisdom # 9

When you see an individual in your commumity without a smile - make sure to give them one of yours.

Pearl of Wisdom # 8

Never Trade Luck for Skill.

Pearl of Wisdom # 7

There are three critical steps to remember when you speak in public. 1) Be Brief    2)  Be Brilliant   and  3) Be Done

Pearl of Wisdom # 6

When dining in public remember to bring your food to your face - not your face to the food.

Pearl of Wisdom # 5

If you always do what you've always done - don't be surprised if you always get what you always got.

Pearl of Wisdom # 4

Never forget the 3 G;s:  Look Good, Sound Good and above all Smell Good

Pearl of Wisdom # 3

If good schools, good roads and a good workforce are the only reasons you and your colleagues can come up with as to why new businesses should locate in your commumity ... don't hold your breath waiting for new businesses to come.