Going into "transition" is a very difficult situation that all too many members face at some point in their local government careers. Any job change is difficult, but when it's forced on someone for reasons that often have nothing to do with their job performance, it can be traumatic. We want to be sure you are aware of the resources ICMA and its valued partners make available to members who are between jobs.

When a manager or assistant manager is fired, forced to resign or otherwise involuntarily separated from local government service, ICMA provides an array of personal and financial support.

In Transition?

• Get enrolled. Contact: membership@icma.org.

Want to support a colleague in transition?

First and foremost, reach out to your colleagues in transition with advice and support! Also, consider members in transition for short-term and interim assignments in your community. 

• Connect with colleagues in transition.

Remember that You are Not Alone. Keep in touch with friends, involve your family in your struggles, and stay active. You have much to contribute, and you will find a rewarding, new opportunity. 

• Personal Support
• Stay Engaged with ICMA and the ICMA member network
• Maximize Your Job Search
• Take Advantage of the ICMA Senior Advisors Program
• Make Plans to Continue Your Professional Development
• Learn from the Experiences of Others
• Financial support for member dues and professional development
• Additional Support Services
  • Reputation Management Services
•  Resources

Personal Support

ICMA provides access to support services from ICMA leadership, senior management staff, Senior Advisors, and other members. Members are given the opportunity to have their names listed in the ICMA Newsletter  and on the website as "in transition."  Their colleagues are encouraged to respond individually with advice and support. Colleagues should also keep in mind that members in transition are wonderful resources for short-term and interim assignments. In addition, each member in transition receives access to special articles and other publications designed to address common concerns during this difficult time. Click here for one example, a Colorado manual for managers in transition. 

Stay Engaged with ICMA and the ICMA Member Network

You are still very much a part of the international ICMA network. Be sure to keep us current on your home and e-mail addresses so membership materials reach you promptly. ICMA recognizes how important it is that you continue to receive your member communications including Leadership Matters (member edition) with its job ads, PM Magazine, and access to the password-protected sections of icma.org. 

Remember that your membership belongs to you, not to your employer. If your membership dues come up for renewal while you're in transition, just note that on the invoice, return it to our attention, and ICMA will waive your membership dues for up to three years.

Additionally, reach out to your state association; many states offer in transition members additional benefits and services.

Contact ICMA Member Services any time you feel the need for personal support or counsel at 800-745-8780/202-962-3680 or membership@icma.org.

• Learn more about state association support for members in transition.

Maximize Your Job Search

Consider the career resources available through the ICMA Career Center and the ICMA Job Center, which offers members a database of current job openings in the local government management profession, an online resume service, and online ICMA publications. Of particular interest may be:

• ICMA’s Job Hunting Handbook for Local Government Officials
• ICMA’s Resources for the Interim or Acting Manager. (If you are considering interim assignments)

Take Advantage of the ICMA Senior Advisor Program

The counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers is available to you. Senior Advisors have "been there" and experienced many of the same problems, frustrations, and conflicts that you have. All discussions are on a confidential, no-fee basis. The Senior Advisors have offered to volunteer their time to counsel, brainstorm, and, most of all, listen. ICMA and the State Associations in over 20 States share their travel, phone, and postage expenses. 

Make Plans to Continue Your Professional Development

Come to the ICMA Annual Conference, with complimentary registration for you and your partner. Instructions for "in transition" members are included on the registration form. Members in transition are also given the opportunity to access travel and lodging assistance scholarships. For those who still cannot attend, archived virtual conference materials are provided free of charge after the conference.

ICMA also provides complimentary, unlimited access to webinars (priced at $149.00) to members in transition.

• Register online for a webinar as you would normally. Because we have you listed as a member in transition the fee will balance out to zero at the end of the process. 

Learn from the Experiences of Others

Here are just a few resources to provide guidance during this time:

• An ICMA Member in Transition Guide
• MIT Resource Guide from Kurt Bressner
• Tips from Member in Transition Calls: Contact membership@icma.org for the details about our bimonthly conference call for other members in transition.
• Video: Susan Thorpe talks about ICMA's MIT Program

Financial Support

• Your ICMA Membership dues payments are waived.
• Your Annual Conference registration fee is waived.
• Unlimited access to ICMA University Webinars; the fee is waived.

On a financial level, ICMA waives dues payments in six-month increments for up to three years. To facilitate networking with their fellow managers and to promote professional development while in transition, the registration fees for the Annual Conference are waived. What’s more, we’ve made the registration process easy. Just register online as you would normally register, and because we have you listed as a member in transition the fee will balance out to zero at the end of the process. Members in transition are also given the opportunity to apply for a travel and lodging stipend. (For those who still cannot attend the Annual Conference, archived virtual conference materials are provided free of charge after the event.). Another benefit ICMA extends to the member in transition is unlimited complimentary access to all webinars priced at $149.

Download the MIT Flyer

Additional Support Services

Reputation Management Services for ICMA Members in Transition    

Online reputation management is the process of preventing and repairing threats to your online reputation, but it also involves building a strong positive presence. It is done by tracking what is written about you using techniques to address or moderate that information. Tripepi Smith is the preferred provider of online reputation management products and services. MITs interested in accessing these resources, contact membership@icma.org

Reputation Management Services Brochure

Reputation Management Resources from ICMA

Questions? Contact us.

Since ICMA membership belongs to the individual, not the local government, it is important for members to contact ICMA whenever there is a change in employment status. Reach out to us at membership@icma.org or call 202-962-3680.

Don’t miss the Assistants’ Exchange, a 2019 ICMA Annual Conference pre-conference event where you’ll network with other assistants and learn how other communities deliver services, engage residents, and plan for the future.

What Is the ICMA Assistants’ Exchange?

Participants in this year’s ICMA Assistants’ Exchange, sponsored by the 2019 Conference Host Committee, will spend the day as the guest of a participating local government in the greater Nashville Area. 

On Friday morning, October 18, you’ll be transported from your hotel to your host community, where you’ll tour government operations; attend meetings; and discuss the programs, people, and issues affecting that specific community. 

After the full-day session, participants meet for an open bar reception at the Hilton Hotel.   

Several communities in the Nashville area have already signed up to serve as hosts:

City of Brentwood
City of Franklin
City of Spring Hill 
City of Spring Field 
City of Goodlettsville

Plan to Come Early

Because the ICMA Assistants’ Exchange begins early Friday morning, participants should plan to arrive in Nashville on Thursday, October 17. You will be responsible for your own expenses, except for transportation to and from your host community and lunch on Friday.

Apply Today: Spaces are Limited!

The ICMA Assistants’ Exchange is open to all local government assistants who are ICMA members. The number of assistants that the program will accommodate is limited to the number of participating host communities, but efforts will be made to accommodate as many participants as feasible. Selections will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable opportunity for yourself or to encourage a team member in your city, town, or county to participate.

To apply, download and complete the Assistants’ Exchange registration form and send it via email to: Jay Evans, assistant city manager, City of Brentwood, TN jay.evans@brentwoodtn.gov.

DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM

Read what past participants say about this ground-breaking program:

“The Assistants’ Exchange Program is one of ICMA’s hidden gems.  I participated in the Assistants’ Exchange many times prior to becoming a City Manager.  The lessons I learned from others around the country were priceless. If you have the opportunity to participate in this signature program, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so! It is a great way to kick-off the ICMA Conference learning experience.”

–— Bonnie Svrcek, city manager, Lynchburg VA

“The Assistant’s Exchange allows you to learn best practices, hands-on from a community that you would have never experienced otherwise. In addition, the exchange allows for fantastic networking and camaraderie with other leaders in our profession. It was an outstanding experience that you will not want to miss out on.”

— Scott Andrews, assistant city manager, City of Smyrna, GA

“For me, the exchange was valuable because it allowed me to experience firsthand different challenges and goals from a community that was different than the one I work in.  It also allowed me to bring new ideas back to my community.”

— Scott W. Colby Jr., assistant to the town manager, Town of Plainville, CT

“The Assistants’ Exchange program was a great way to meet local government professionals from across the nation and make friends early on at the conference. This opportunity gave me some great exposure to a new city and highlighted some unique and interesting ideas I brought back to my city. It also created a sense of connectedness based on shared challenges and hurdles that seem universal in local government. Overall, I would recommend the exchange to anyone interested in broadening their view of city management.”

— Jackson Daly, assistant to the city manager, City of Georgetown, TX

Catch up on all the advice from ICMA's Career Compass, in case you missed one or want to share these links with a colleague. 

To get this column by email, sign-up for the Coaching Program email list. Simply click “Create Account” in the upper right hand corner of this page and follow the steps. Once you are signed-in, manage your Communication Preferences in your profile. Scroll down to “Subscriptions” and click the box next to ICMA Coaching. You will now receive ICMA Coaching Emails.

Also, check out the Career Compass Anthology: Volume I and Career Compass Anthology: Volume II - compilations of the first 50 columns in two formatted PDFs. Volume III-IV are being formatted.

Career Compass No. 114: What I Wish I Knew as a Younger Leader

Career Compass No. 113: Promote Stability Amid All the Change

Career Compass No. 112: Can You Show Your True Self at Work?

Career Compass No. 111: Are You a Generous Leader?

Career Compass No. 110: Accelerate Through Subtraction 

Career Compass No. 109: Succession Planning—Nine Classic Mistakes to Avoid

Career Compass No. 108: Leadership Starts with Self-awareness

Career Compass No. 107: The Business Case for Promoting Workplace Belonging

Career Compass No. 106: Supporting a Colleague in Distress

Career Compass No. 105: How Do You Show Up as a Leader?

Career Compass No. 104: Workforce Trends You Can’t Ignore

Career Compass No. 103: Avoid Seeking Happiness at Work

Career Compass No. 102: Responding to Public Criticism

Career Compass No. 101: Now Is the Time to Reinvest in the Front Line

Career Compass No. 100: Leadership Lessons from 99 Career Compass Columns

Career Compass No. 99: Harness the Hidden Power of Rituals

Career Compass No. 98: Combating Change Exhaustion

Career Compass No. 97: Seven Ways to Boost Your Leadership Capabilities

Career Compass No. 96: Why We Need Great Mid-managers More than Ever

Career Compass No. 95: Use Return-to-Office as Your Opportunity to Reset Culture

Career Compass No. 94: 10 Principles for Leading in Turbulence

Career Compass No. 93: Does Your Executive Group Have a First-Team Mindset?

Career Compass No. 92: Leveraging Six  Sources of Influence

Career Compass No. 91: Post-Covid, What is your Leadership Narrative?

Career Compass No. 90: Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis

Career Compass No. 89: Overcoming the Arrogance of Expertise

Career Compass No. 88: Leaders Are Dealers in Hope

Career Compass No. 87: Do Something!

Career Compass No. 86: Empathy is a Superpower

Career Compass No. 85: To Thrive in Post-Pandemic, Enhance Employee Experience

Career Compass No. 84: Got Grit?

Career Compass No. 83: How Do I Have Energizing Performance Conversations with Direct Reports?

Career Compass No. 82: Avoid Layoffs by Using a Menu of Strategies

Career Compass No. 81: We Need Adaptive Leaders Now

Career Compass No. 80: To Retain Your Talent, Use Stay Interviews

Career Compass No. 79: Leading by Connecting

Career Compass No. 78: Info Interviews - A Tool to Help You Advance

Career Compass No. 77: Ten Practices to Build a Mini-Culture of Learning

Career Compass No. 76: Humble Leaders Get Results

Career Compass No. 75: Patience Is a Leadership Virtue

Career Compass No. 74: How Do I Get Everyone's Commitment?

Career Compass No. 73: How Do I Get and Benefit from a Stretch Assignment?

Career Compass No. 72: How Do We Generate Creative Ideas?

Career Compass No. 71: Why Won’t They Collaborate with Us?

Career Compass No. 70: How to Handle a Difficult Conversation with a Direct Report

Career Compass No. 69: Psychological Safety: The One Key Determinant of Team Effectiveness

Career Compass No. 68: My My 1:1 Meetings Are a Waste of Time

Career Compass No. 67: Effective Leaders Start with Compassion

Career Compass No. 66: Lighten Up!

Career Compass No. 65: FIO—The Key Competency for 21st Century Leaders

Career Compass No. 64: Ten Ideas to Become a Talent Magnet

Career Compass No. 63: Legacy: Don't Live It, Leave It

Career Compass No. 62: "How Do I Get A Better Title?"

Career Compass No. 61: Leadership Is the Art of Conversation

Career Compass No. 60: I Don't Like My Mid-Manager Job!

Career Compass No. 59: Perform the Job Before You Get It

Career Compass No. 58: Overcoming Deep-Seated Fears

Career Compass No. 57: Leading By Living Your Values

Career Compass No. 56: The Paradoxes of Leadership

Career Compass No. 55: I'm Not Ready! 

Career Compass No. 54: How Do I Position Myself for Advancement?

Career Compass No. 53: How Do I Hold People Accountable?

Career Compass No. 52: Recasting My Rep

Career Compass No. 51: Building a World Class Culture

Career Compass No. 50: Storytelling--A Powerful Way to Lead and Communicate

Career Compass No. 49: Building High-Performance Teams—What’s the Magic?

Career Compass No. 48: How Do I Benefit from a Coach?

Career Compass No. 47: Leadership Myths Debunked 

Career Compass No. 46: Leading By Letting Go

Career Compass No. 45: City Managers Need Coaches Too

Career Compass No. 44: Rookie Mistakes of a First-Time Department Head

Career Compass No. 43: My Team is Overwhelmed (and so am I)!

Career Compass No. 42: Trust Me!

Career Compass No. 41: The Post-Heroic Leader

Career Compass No. 40: “Why Can't We Just Get Along?"

Career Compass No. 39: The Courage to Do the Right Thing

Career Compass No. 38: Your Staff Meetings Don't Have To Be Dreary

Career Compass No. 37: Engaging Employees for Success

Career Compass No. 36: Creating a Leadership Presence

Career Compass No. 35: Leadership Lessons from My Teenage Daughter

Career Compass No. 34: Making Presentations Like a Pro

Career Compass No. 33: Making the Move Up and Out—What’s the Fit?

Career Compass No. 32: The Power of Vulnerability 

Career Compass No. 31: Political Savviness

Career Compass No. 30: Building a Powerful Network

Career Compass No. 29: Forget Work-Life Balance...Re-Energize at Work and at Home!

Career Compass No. 28: My Team Member Is a Slacker!

Career Compass No. 27: Creating a Safe Environment for a Courageous Conversation

Career Compass No. 26: The Art of the Interview

Career Compass No. 25: Winning Office Politics, the Right Way

Career Compass No. 24: Asking Powerful Questions

Career Compass No. 23: Building Your Personal Brand

Career Compass No. 22: Overcoming Your Blind Spots

Career Compass No. 21: My Micromanaging Boss Is Driving Me Crazy!

Career Compass No. 20: They've Oversized My Job!

Career Compass No. 19: Why Should Anyone Follow Me?

Career Compass No. 18: Taking Smart Risks

Career Compass No. 17: The Subtle Art of Promoting Your Value

Career Compass No. 16: Should I Consider a Lateral Move?

Career Compass No. 15: Dealing with Angry Crowds

Career Compass No. 14: Selling Your Ideas

Career Compass No. 13: Developing a Finance IQ

Career Compass No. 12: Communicating with Your Boss

Career Compass No. 11: Frank’s Rules for Resume Writing

Career Compass No. 10: Personal Learning—The Key to Adapting and Advancing

Career Compass No. 9: Bouncing Back From Defeat

Career Compass No. 8: Leading From the Middle

Career Compass No. 7: How Do I Create a "Dream Team" of Advisors?

Career Compass No. 6: The Multi-generational Workplace

Career Compass No. 5: Developing Leadership Skills When You Have No Formal Authority

Career Compass No. 4: Spot That Opening, and Take It!

Career Compass No. 3: Getting Ready for the Next Opportunity

Career Compass No. 2: Defining Your Value In Uncertain Times

Career Compass No. 1: What Skills Are Most Important for a Manager (And How Do I Develop Them)?

Sponsored by the ICMA Coaching Program, ICMA Career Compass is a column from ICMA focused on career issues for local government professional staff. Dr. Frank Benest is ICMA's Liaison for Next Generation Initiatives and resides in Palo Alto, California. If you have a career question you would like addressed in a future Career Compass, e-mail careers@icma.org or contact Frank directly at frank@frankbenest.com. Read past columns at icma.org/careercompass.

CoachConnect

• Go to icma.org/coachconnect to sign up as a coach or learner! 

1-1 Coaching

• Resources for New Coaches

• NEW! Coaching Up, Down, and Across

• ABC's of One-to-One Coaching

• Being a Great Coach and a Winning Player

• Video: "Being a Great Coach and a Winning Player"

• Video: "Being a Great Coach: Catalyze the Greatness in Others"

• Video: Being a Winning Player: Take Charge of Your Talent"

• Making Effective Requests

• Talent Catalyst Conversation Outline

• Video: "Talent Catalyst Conversation: Watch Coaching in Action" 

• Video National Mentoring Month

Speedcoaching

• Guidelines for Enjoying Speed Coaching

State Associations

• Leveraging Your Participation in the Coaching Program: Ten Tips for State Associations

• Leveraging Your Participation in the Coaching Program: Ten Tips for Outreach Partners

FAQs

1. Who is Coaching for? What does it offer?

Everyone! Coaching offers value for people at any stage in their careers. As in sports, coaching helps even the best players do better. Why? Because everyone can benefit from sharing best practices and gaining perspectives from others who can help them see their situation and opportunities from a fresh perspective. That's why we organize the Coaching program webinars to serve as whole team learning experiences. It's also why the Speed Coaching and 1-1 Coaching models provide a structure for advice at multiple stages in a career. 

2. What resources are in the coaching program?

The ICMA Coaching Program delivers a suite of services to help you grow and enjoy your career:

• 6 live Webinars per year spotlighting best practices on key topics from local government professionals throughout the U.S. -- invite your whole team to participate. 
• Digital Agendas and Archives with video recordings and extensive presentation materials and examples from dozens of sessions available in a convenient online library--delivering you "professional development in a box"--when you want it and where you want it.
• One-on-One coaching provided through our online platform, ICMA CoachConnect
• Talent Development Resources to make greater use of your talent and have fun doing it.
• Speed Coaching session at the ICMA Annual Conference  and templates for use at local level -- expand your networks.
• Career Compass columns that address critical career issues.

3. Do I need to be a member of ICMA to participate in 1-1 Coaching?

No. Due to the generosity of the sponsors and partners for the ICMA Coaching Program and volunteer coaches, you do not need to be a member. Since ICMA membership has many benefits, we encourage you to consider joining.

4. What's the difference between a coach, a catalyst, and a mentor?

Some people use "coach" and "mentor" interchangeably. In the ICMA Coaching Program, we use the term "coach" to refer to someone who is helping others find the answers for themselves. This fits well with the interests of aspiring professionals to gain insights from others but blaze their own trails. A catalyst is a type of coach who accelerates action and precipitates results for others without becoming consumed in the process. A catalyst keeps the player in charge of his or her choices. In contrast, mentors often refer to people who teach others and guide them in how to do things. This works well when there is a specific body of knowledge that someone wishes to learn. So, a coach and a mentor are tools for different purposes. You'll probably want one or more of both and who they are will likely evolve over your career.

5. How often and over what period of time should a coach and coachees meet?

This is up to the coach and player. Some meet initially in-person or over the phone and then have occasional check-ins. Some make other arrangements. It's up to your mutual decision. You can decide to start and stop a coaching relationship as you see fit. 

6. How many coaches should I have?

Just as top sports players have multiple coaches (one overall, another for a particular skill, etc.), you may wish to have more than one coach. You might have one coach who helps you as you navigate your overall career. This might be an ongoing relationship of several months or more with occasional check-ins. You might have another coach (perhaps even one suggested by your career coach) for a targeted time to help you address a special need or insights about a particular subject or situation.

7. What is the "two-plus-one" system of coaching?

Two-plus-one is an easy way to remember the ideal set-up of a quick-to-access network of coaches. For project, program, or organizational advice, you want one coach within your department or team that can advise you on internal processes, goals, or give you other feedback related to your programs and goals. This can be, but does not need to be your direct supervisor. Then you want a coach in the same organization, but outside your team, to be an advisor that can also put things in context to the organization, the community, or how priorities connect to your question, project, or need for coaching. This can be a more senior staff person, but does not have to be. Someone with longer tenure in the organization can help as they should understand the levers and pulleys in the organization. Lastly, you want a coach outside your organization who can give you a fresh perspective, and can also be a confidant for you on issues you might not want to bring up internally before getting an outsider's perspective. And as in question 6, you can have as many coaches as you need!

Contact coaching@icma.org with feedback or additional questions!