Strategic Planning in Government: Lessons from a City Manager

Strategic planning plays a crucial role in government and business alike. But while we often hear about strategic planning in the private sector, public sector planning is just as critical—and it offers lessons that entrepreneurs and business leaders can apply to their organizations.

In this episode of the Measure Success Podcast, we sit down with Andy Takata, a city manager with over 21 years of experience leading cities of various sizes and complexities. Andy shares his deep knowledge of government planning and explains how these lessons can be applied to private sector strategies.

Key Insights from the Episode:

1. Understanding Public Sector Strategy: Government strategic planning often involves longer timelines and more stakeholders, but the principles can translate to businesses that require alignment and long-term thinking.

2. Staying Focused in Strategy: Andy discusses how he avoids getting distracted by “shiny objects” and emphasizes the importance of sticking to the plan while staying open to opportunities that truly align with goals.

3. Olympic-Level Discipline: Drawing from his experience officiating water polo at the Olympics, Andy highlights the habits and discipline required to succeed in high-pressure environments.

Measuring Success:

Andy explores the differences in how success is evaluated in public vs private sectors and shares his personal approach to defining success in life and work.

More Insights Include:

• The two main forms of local government and how they impact operations
• The role of political ideologies in strategic planning
• Balancing strategic work with personal habits
• This episode offers practical advice and fascinating stories, making it a must-listen for leaders in any field.

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Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• • The city of DuPont, Washington
  • Andy Takata on LinkedIn
  • “If it Ain’t Broke…Break It!: And Other Unconventional Wisdom for a Changing Business World” by Robert J. Kriegel and Louis Palter
  • “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins
  • “For the Love of Cities” by Peter Kageyama
  • “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey
  • Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox 
  • 40 Strategy
  • Contact 40 Strategy
  • Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn