No leadership experience is perfect, and my time as mayor of Chestermere offered many lessons—some learned through success, others through challenges and mismanagement. Reflecting on these experiences is essential for growth, both personally and for the city itself. Understanding past mistakes allows leaders to implement better practices, rebuild trust, and strengthen governance.
One of the first lessons I learned was the importance of clear communication. In municipal governance, assumptions or vague messaging can quickly lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and frustration among residents and staff. If I could do things differently, I would prioritize consistent, transparent communication from day one—ensuring citizens understand not just decisions, but the reasoning behind them, the processes followed, and how their input was considered.
Another critical area is financial oversight. Municipal budgets are complex, and even minor lapses can have significant consequences. During my tenure, some financial decisions could have benefited from more rigorous review and documentation. In hindsight, implementing stricter checks, regular audits, and formal approval processes would have minimized misunderstandings, prevented unauthorized expenditures, and reinforced accountability.
Engaging council and staff effectively is another lesson. Leadership is not about making unilateral decisions; it’s about fostering collaboration and consensus. I learned that creating a culture of mutual respect, clear responsibilities, and open dialogue is vital. If I were to approach it differently, I would invest even more in team-building, structured collaboration, and regular feedback sessions to ensure alignment across the leadership team.
Community engagement is an area where more could always be done. While efforts were made to include residents in consultations and policy discussions, I realized the importance of reaching out proactively to underrepresented groups, providing multiple engagement channels, and demonstrating how input directly influenced decisions. Greater inclusivity would have strengthened trust and ensured that policies truly reflected the diversity of our community.
Planning and prioritization is another lesson from experience. Cities face countless competing demands—budgetary pressures, development projects, infrastructure needs, and social services. It’s easy to become reactive, addressing immediate issues without a comprehensive strategy. I learned that having a clear, long-term plan with defined priorities helps guide decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and anticipate challenges before they become crises.
Finally, acknowledging mistakes openly is a leadership practice I would emphasize even more. Residents respect leaders who take responsibility, learn from errors, and implement corrective measures. Attempting to avoid or minimize mistakes undermines trust. Embracing accountability and demonstrating a willingness to learn fosters credibility and strengthens the relationship between leadership and the community.
Conclusion
Mismanagement, in any form, is a powerful teacher. Reflecting on my time as mayor of Chestermere, I recognize the areas where improvements could have been made—communication, financial oversight, team collaboration, community engagement, planning, and accountability. These lessons are not just about avoiding mistakes; they are about building stronger governance, more responsive leadership, and a city that functions efficiently and ethically.
Leadership is a continuous learning process. By reflecting on what went wrong and committing to doing things differently, municipal leaders can rebuild trust, implement more effective policies, and create a resilient, thriving community. My hope is that sharing these lessons encourages future leaders—and residents—to prioritize transparency, collaboration, and accountability above all else.
