Making It Work: The Essentials of Council-Manager Relations challenges early and seasoned local government professionals to create connections and forge the bonds necessary to tackle the difficult issues that inevitably face all professionals at some point during their careers. Making It Work describes and shows the combination of relationship competencies and operational competencies that underpin a solid foundation for effective council-manager relations.

1. Testimonials

2. Susan Sherman, ICMA-CM
Assistant City Manager
City of Olathe, KS
This quick, easy-to-read guide on city council-manager relations will
give you practical ideas and useful advice on a variety of important
topics, from governance to council retreats. Best thing, you can slip in
and out of the book, reading select topics as you need them. Think of it
as your new Wikipedia on c-m relations.“

3. Rod Gould
Former City Manager
Greenbrae, CA
The council-manager form of government often rises or falls based on
the council-manager relationship. This guidebook is chock full of
useful suggestions for building and maintaining positive working
relations with your council. Whether you are just starting out in the
profession or a seasoned veteran, Making It Work will improve your
performance. Kevin Duggan and Mike Conduff have done us a huge
favor in condensing decades of experience into this volume. I highly
commend it to any practitioner or scholar of local government.“

4. Martha Bennett
Chief Operating Officer, Metro
Portland, OR
Making It Work is a clear, thoughtful, and pragmatic guide to the practices
that build trust between elected councils and local government
executives. Mike and Kevin provide common sense recommendations
about the key relationship that is at the heart of our work in local
governments. I particularly appreciate the focus on the interpersonal skills
that managers need to succeed—listening, consistent communication, the
ability to receive feedback, and the ability to adjust your style to your
audience. This is 21st century advice and will help managers in all types of
local governments—city, county, special district, rural, urban, large and
small—build relationships and results with their elected officials.”

5. Anthony Romanello, ICMA-CM
County Administrator
Stafford, VA
Public service is a calling, and good government is an art. Great
communities are not accidental—they are built and must be
nurtured. For both the new manager and the seasoned professional,
Making It Work is the toolkit we all need to stay at the top of our
game.”

6. Sheryl Sculley
City Manager
City of San Antonio, TX
Mike and Kevin have created an illuminating narrative that offers
valuable insights about council-manager relations.”

7. Milton Dohoney, ICMA-CM
Assistant City Manager
City of Phoenix, AZ
Making It Work is relevant for city managers and executive level staff
regardless of community size. It is an easy read, it is built for
practitioners, and it allows us to reflect upon our current methods of
engaging with elected officials with an eye towards best practices. In
short, it should help us do our jobs better!”

8. Sam S. Gaston
City Manager
City of Mountain Brook, AL
Making It Work: The Essentials of Council-Manager Relations is a great
read for all local government managers because it is our relationship
with our governing bodies that most determines our success or failure.
Kevin Duggan and Mike Conduff, through their vast experience in our
profession, have laid out simple but critical advice and guidance for us
to follow.”

9. Chris McKenzie
Executive Director, League of California Cities
Sacramento, CA
Mike and Kevin have authored a highly accessible and practical guide
for successfully navigating the council-manager relationship. Some of
the best passages no doubt were informed by the scars they still carry
from their mistakes as well as their many successes. It’s the kind of
publication you’ll find yourself going back to many times—perhaps
even late at night after a difficult council meeting. You also will share
it with members of your team to help make them more effective and
better prepared for their next professional steps.”

10. Barbara Romzek
Dean, School of Public Affairs
American University
Duggan and Conduff offer excellent insights into strategies for
sustaining the important balance between managerial expertise and
responsiveness to elected officials—the perennial challenge of council
manager relations. This work can be a valuable primer to aspiring
and new managers who may be facing these issues for the first
time. It will be a welcome refresher to experienced local government
managers when challenges to effective council relations inevitably
arise.”

11. Carl Stenberg
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
In one publication ICMA has provided a much-needed comprehensive
review of the dynamics of manager relationships with elected officials
and staff. The authors offer candid and constructive insights and
advice from real world experiences. Their principles, protocols, and
practices will prove valuable to both experienced managers and
emerging management team leaders.”

12. Ted Gaebler
San Rafael, CA
Kevin and Mike hit the mark by focusing on establishing and
maintaining effective council-manager relations. Being urged to focus
on this too-often neglected topic is one of the gifts of this book.”

13. Sylvester Murray, Coordinator, MPA Program
Savannah State University
Savannah, GA
Dugan and Conduff have written an excellent on-the-job manual. It is
brisk, crisp, and instructive. Obviously written from both academic
learning and practical experiences. If read and followed, it would help
administrators avoid managerial potholes (and maybe a sinkhole).”