​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 ‘apply’ on that next CEO or executive role, here are five gentle but important questions to ask yourself.

1. Why this role — really?

Is it because of the title, the salary, the size of the council? Or is it because you feel you can make a difference here, in this place, with these people?

It’s easy to chase the next rung on the ladder. But lasting success comes when the role matches more than ambition - it matches purpose.

2. What will this role let me learn — not just lead?

Even the best executives keep learning. What will this role teach you that your current role can’t?

If you’re not sure - pause. You may be reaching for comfort, not growth.

3. Is this the right council, not just the right job?

Local government leadership isn’t the same everywhere. Every council has its own culture, councillors, community expectations.

Are these people - this place - where you can thrive?

The wrong cultural fit can make the best role feel hard. The right fit can make the hardest job feel meaningful.

4. What am I willing to risk — or give up — for this move?

Every leadership move asks something of you. Uprooting family. Losing stability. Facing a steeper political landscape.

Be honest. What are you prepared to trade for this opportunity - and what are you not?

5. What story will this role add to my leadership journey?

Will this next step make your career story clearer or more confused?

Will this role make sense, in five years, when you look back? Or will it feel like a sideways detour you didn’t need?

The best leadership stories are the ones that make sense - to you, and to others.

Still Unsure? Talk It Through.

At Leading Roles, we help senior executives think these things through - quietly, carefully, without pressure. Sometimes we help people step up. Sometimes we help them step back and wait for what’s right.

If you want an honest conversation about your next move, no sales pitch, just clear insight, get in touch.

📧hello@leadingroles.com.au
📞1800 088 000

Because the right move isn’t always the next one. Sometimes, the best step is the pause before it.