A clear-headed guide for when to lean in and when to read between the lines.If you’ve ever talked yourself out of applying for a job because you didn’t tick every ‘desirable’ box, you’re not alone.In senior recruitment, especially in local government, it’s easy to assume that if it’s listed, it must be essential. But that’s not always true.The word “desirable” lives in a gre...

​What respected local government leaders do in the first 90 days and what they don’t.When you step into an executive or CEO role in local government, there’s a quiet pressure that doesn’t show up in the position description:Will they trust me? Not just to deliver but to listen, to lead and to represent the organisation with integrity.We’ve worked alongside councils through...

​Quiet cues, subtle habits and how to send the right signals.You walk into the room. You’ve done your preparation. You’ve read the strategy and checked the website. You’re calm (mostly). You shake hands, sit down and the questions begin.From that moment, the panel isn’t just listening. They’re watching. And what they notice often has less to do with what you say, and moreand...

​At a recent team meeting, our amazing Temporary Placements lead Katharine Ottaway mentioned that “AI Slop” had been announced as Macquarie Dictionary’s “Word of the Year” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-25/ai-slop-named-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2025/106047682 Words, images, music and video are being produced at unprecedented speed. Much of it is impressive....

​Every organisation feels the pressure to fill a senior leadership vacancy quickly.​The inbox fills. The Acting CEO carries extra weight. Councillors, community and staff ask, “When will someone be appointed?”​That pressure is real, and understandable. But in executive recruitment, speed and certainty are not the same thing.​Those of you who know me know I’m obsessive about...

​What happens when senior leaders fall behind the digital curve, and how councils can gently support (or carefully select) for future-fit leadership.There’s a quiet truth in local government today: Many senior leaders, especially those who’ve risen through traditional pathways, are a little behind the digital curve.It’s not a failure. It’s a reflection of the era they came ...

​A grounded reflection on what truly shapes council CEOs and why leadership aptitude, development, and context all matter. It’s one of the oldest questions in leadership: are great leaders born… or made? In local government, where complexity, politics, public trust and community expectation meet, it’s not an academic debate. It directly shapes how councils appoint CEOs, and ...

When specialist support makes the difference - and when you might be fine without it.​It’s a fair question.When your council needs to appoint a new CEO or senior executive, the instinct can be to wonder: Can we do this ourselves? And sometimes, if you have a strong internal candidate and absolute confidence in our process, the answer might be yes.But more often than not, the...

​Pause before your next application - the inner questions that matter more than the job title.In leadership careers, especially in local government, it can feel like you’re supposed to keep climbing. Next role. Bigger council. Higher title.But the truth is quieter than that: not every opportunity is the right opportunity. And not every move is the right move.Before you press...

In local government, setting effective Key Performance Indicators can be transformative, ensuring your team’s work is directly aligned with community goals and organisational priorities. KPIs are usually established as part of a performance plan, articulating the specific deliverables to be achieved in a year ahead. They need to be considered alongside the organisation’s val...

​It’s one of the smallest moments in any job interview - but it can say more than you think.You’re led into the room. Smiles, handshakes, introductions. You sit down, and then comes the quiet offer:“Can I get you a glass of water?”You pause. You wonder. Should you say yes? Is there a right answer?It sounds like such a small thing, but this moment actually reveals something ...

​Why the best candidates aren’t perfect - they’re clear, real, and self-aware.​We hear it all the time in recruitment: councils want to find “the unicorn” - that rare candidate who’s strategic and operational, inspiring and grounded, visionary and detailed.The problem? If you try too hard to be that unicorn in an interview, you risk looking like something else entirely: unre...

The Language of Leadership: The Quiet Signals That Set Great Executives Apart​And how we listen for it in every recruitment process.​When recruiting senior executives or CEOs, councils naturally focus on track records, qualifications, and past roles. These things matter.But in the quiet work of executive search, there’s something else we listen for, something harder to measu...

​After attending the NGA 2025 conference in Canberra last week, I was reminded once again of the critical role that relationships play in building high-functioning local governments.  Many discussions focused on the need for adaptable, visionary leaders who can connect community need with organisational outcomes - BUT - without strong, trust-based relationships between Counc...

In the world of local government, managing performance is about more than just meeting key performance indicators. It’s about fostering growth, aligning individual contributions with organisational goals, and ensuring leaders are equipped to handle both current challenges and future demands.Increasingly, councils are turning to capability frameworks to guide performance mana...

​In recent years, contracting has become an increasingly popular career option, even in sectors traditionally seen as more stable, like local government. However, despite its growing popularity, there are still a number of misconceptions about contracting that can hold candidates back from considering this flexible career path. If you're unsure about whether contracting is r...

​When an employer or recruiter scans your resume, they’re not just looking for qualifications and achievements, they’re also scanning for potential concerns that might give them pause. While some issues can be addressed with the right framing, it’s important to know what employers are most likely to notice and how to manage these red flags.Here are three of the most common n...

In the evolving world of local government leadership, the question isn’t so much about whether position descriptions (PDs) are outdated, but how they can be used as contemporary strategically aligned tools for business performance. At Leading Roles, we believe that PDs can be reframed as part of the organisation’s story, embodying vision, values, and purpose, showing how eac...

​Interviews are a pivotal step in securing your next role, especially in the competitive landscape of local government. While preparing thoroughly can set you up for success, knowing what to avoid is equally important. Here are some of the most common interview mistakes—and how to ensure you don’t make them.1. Not Doing Your HomeworkFailing to research the organisation, its ...

Workplace culture is the heartbeat of any organisation. It influences how teams collaborate, how decisions are made, and ultimately, how successful the organisation becomes. When a culture isn’t working, when it’s stifling performance or failing to engage employees—it’s time to take a proactive approach to evolve it into something better. But how do you move from a stagnant...