Leadership: The Toughest Game You’ll Ever Play

?? Leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about action.

For economic developers, leadership often feels like navigating a maze while building the map as you go. The stakes are high: jobs, investments, community futures. The challenges? Complex and often unpredictable.

The truth is, leadership in economic development isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions, empowering others, and moving forward despite uncertainty.

But let’s not sugarcoat it: leadership is tough.

The Problem: Leadership in Uncertain Times

Economic developers face unique challenges:

• Conflicting priorities: Balancing the demands of businesses, government, and community stakeholders who don’t always agree.
• High-stakes decisions: Attracting investments, securing funding, or revitalizing a downtown, often with limited resources.
• Pressure to deliver results: Communities depend on your ability to drive economic growth and create opportunities.

Leadership in this field means making tough calls, navigating resistance, and rallying diverse groups around shared goals—even when the path isn’t clear.

The Solution: Three Pillars of Leadership

1. ?? Rally Around a Shared Goal Leadership begins with vision. Whether you’re revitalizing a downtown or pitching to an investor, your ability to unite stakeholders around a common goal is critical.
2. ?? Build Trust and Consensus When perspectives clash, it’s easy to hit a wall. But great leaders turn differences into strengths.
3. ?? Make Bold Decisions Leadership requires courage. Not every decision will be perfect, but doing nothing isn’t an option.

The Journey: Lessons Learned Along the Way

"If you’re not getting into some trouble, you’re not doing enough."

I’ve spent years in leadership roles, securing over $250 million in investments, creating hundreds of jobs, and revitalizing communities. Some days, I’ve hit the mark. Other days, the challenges have been my greatest teachers.

The secret? Leadership is about trying, growing, and evolving. It’s messy, rewarding, and ultimately transformational—for both you and your community.

Let’s Talk: Your Leadership Challenges

?? What’s the toughest challenge you’re facing as an economic developer? Whether it’s stakeholder buy-in, attracting investments, or managing expectations, let’s explore solutions together.

Message me or comment below—I’d love to share insights and learn from yours.

What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned about leadership?

Let’s start the conversation. Together, we can elevate our communities, our teams, and our profession.