Shining a Light on Shana Yelverton: A True Leader in Public Service

At the recent Texas City Management Association (TCMA) conference this past June, Shana Yelverton, the longtime City Manager of City of Southlake, Texas Southlake, was honored with the Life Member Award.

This recognition is a testament to her incredible contributions and decades of service to local government. I've had the privilege of working alongside Shana for nearly 18 years, and I've learned so much from her about staying calm, balanced, and thoughtful, no matter the challenge. Her leadership has been a guiding light for me, and I'm excited to highlight her exemplary public service leadership.

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Leadership Style and Philosophy

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Shana’s leadership style is all about adaptability. "I never set out to follow a specific management style," she told me. "I usually go with situational leadership because different situations need different approaches." She believes in establishing a strong organizational culture that emphasizes integrity, employee engagement, and exceptional customer service. "Our leaders often talk about our aspirational culture and their role in supporting it," she said.

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Being flexible is key for Shana. "Sometimes you have to adapt to specific circumstances," she said. "There were times I needed to be persuasive and other times I needed to foster collaboration." This adaptability has allowed her to navigate the complex world of municipal governance effectively.

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Core Values Guiding Decision-Making

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Shana’s decisions are deeply rooted in core values. "As a city manager, my role was to support the policy directives of the city council," she explained. Her main goal was to lead her team in implementing these policies while providing top-notch service to all stakeholders. "We exist to provide service, and it should always come from a place of caring and concern, not ego or fear," she said.

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Shana emphasized the importance of modeling the values set by the council. "These values were our guiding stars," she said. She also stressed the need to stay true to personal values and reassess one’s career path if those values can't be upheld.

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Key Leadership Lessons

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Shana’s career is full of valuable leadership lessons. "Leaders can be collaborative but must be ready to decide and go. If a mistake is made, fix it as soon as possible," she advised. Some of her hardest lessons came from choosing comfort over directly handling a problem. "Brene Brown says 'Clarity is kind.' Learning that earlier could have really enhanced my leadership," she said.

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Balancing micromanaging and hands-off leadership was another critical lesson. "Many lessons I learned came when I didn't listen closely enough to the experts on staff or didn't pay enough attention to a critical issue," she reflected.

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Accomplishments and Milestones

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Shana’s time as City Manager saw significant milestones and achievements. Appointed during a time of upheaval, she successfully set a new course using strategic management and performance accountability. "By the time I retired, we had an exceptionally strong team achieving great results," she proudly shared.

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One of her toughest projects was leading Southlake through the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. "There were a thousand decisions to be made each day, and we were flying blind without enough clear information," she recalled. Shana’s strategic thinking and delegation were crucial. "Our leaders stepped up, bringing energy and passion to their areas, and the organization's performance reflected their competence," she said.

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Proudest Achievement

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Of all her accomplishments, Shana is most proud of the development of her colleagues. "Many of my colleagues are now city managers, assistant city managers, and department heads. Watching them grow into amazing professionals is so satisfying!" she said. As she steps into her next chapter, Shana leaves behind a legacy of mentorship, integrity, and excellence.

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Shana Yelverton’s leadership journey is a shining example for public service professionals. Her ability to calmly lead from a balanced, strategic and thoughtful perspective has left a lasting impact on all of us who have had the privilege to work with her. As she moves into her well-deserved retirement, we celebrate her contributions and the incredible impact she has made on our communities.

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Thank you, Shana, for your dedication and for setting such a high standard for leadership. Your legacy will continue to inspire us all.

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For those of you who have had the privilege to cross paths with Shana, how has she influenced your career or approach to public service? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below!

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