Election time is an anxious period for senior administrative staff. There will soon be a crop of newly elected politicians, some humble and some arrogant, some collaborative and some combative, some committed to serving the entire community and some intent on promoting issues of personal interest. As a senior staff member, are you doing enough to prepare for the potential chaos? Pre-election time is best for getting ready, by establishing "rules of engagement" and by defining the relationships between you and your staff team and your elected officials.

You must have heard the following phrase: There are people who make things happen, others who watch things happen, and yet others who have no idea what happened. The following tips should help you shift from the latter position (reactive) to the former position (proactive):

• Prepare a comprehensive orientation program, covering topics such as: Member's fiduciary duties, code of conduct and ethics, the duty to place broad community interests ahead of narrow interests, minority's obligation to accept collective decisions, conflict of interest policies, transparency and accountability versus confidentiality, roles of elected officials versus staff, appropriate use of committees, relationship building (internally and externally), dispute resolution policies, preparing for meetings, sensible use of rules of order, what goes in meeting minutes (and does not go), etc.
  
• Establish feedback exchange channels with your Board or Council. Your elected officials should be free to tell you what they appreciate and what they need to be changed. Conversely, you should be free to tell them (respectfully but unapologetically) what conditions you need to perform to your best. Direct, honest, principled and regular feedback is the lifeblood of a healthy organization. Without it minor tensions and small misunderstandings can grow into debilitating dysfunctions. Establish the method and frequency of exchanging feedback. You deserve it, your elected officials deserve it, and - most importantly - your community (which is your ultimate "boss") deserves it.
  
• As part of your orientation program, schedule a private meeting with every member of your Board or Council. Explain your role versus their roles, address any questions or concerns, and establish the parameters of a good working relationship for the individual's term of office.
  
• Be prepared to articulate your role clearly and confidently. See affirmations in the previous article.