Windmills or Walls: Continuously Upgrading Your Leadership for Relentless Change 

By Michelle O’Neill, Principal Consultant, West Midlands Employers

Let’s address the elephant in the room—senior leadership in local government isn’t just tough, it’s an unrelenting challenge. Burnout isn’t a distant threat; it’s a constant companion as we navigate financial crises, environmental imperatives, and the growing pressures of societal demands. But while the instinct might be to build walls to shield against the storm, the real opportunity lies in cultivating windmill leaders who can transform disruption into forward momentum. 

The truth? “Training” in the traditional sense may not be seen as the answer. You’ve already honed your leadership over years, even decades, of service. But just as technology requires constant updates to keep up with evolving needs, leadership today demands continuous upgrading to meet the shifting, increasingly complex demands of local government. It’s not about reinventing yourself—it’s about staying ahead, agile, and resilient. 

The Challenge: Leading in a Complex, Connected World 

In the face of financial constraints, the rising social care demands, and an ever-growing scrutiny from both the public and media, senior leaders are under pressure to deliver more with less. But here’s the crux—change doesn’t happen in isolation. Decisions you make in one part of the system can trigger ripples in another. This interconnectedness means that a piecemeal approach to leadership won’t cut it anymore. 

You need to think and lead with a whole-system perspective, anticipating the knock-on effects of every move. It’s about steering the ship, yes, but also being hyper-aware of the currents underneath that could shift your direction in ways you don’t expect. 

The Upgrade: From Skills to Systemic Mastery 

The days of relying on static leadership skills are gone. Leadership in local government is no longer about managing silos—it’s about mastering the ecosystem. We’re talking about whole-system thinking, where you can see not just the immediate challenge, but how it connects to the broader landscape—social, political, and environmental. This means thinking strategically about every decision’s cascading effects, whether it’s on public health, economic sustainability, or community trust. 

Your leadership doesn’t need a reset. It needs regular updates—upgrades that allow you to integrate new insights, navigate shifting landscapes, and guide your teams through the unseen complexity. 

Embracing Vulnerability: A New Leadership Power Move 

You’re not here because you lack experience. You’re here because you’ve been through it all. But there’s one quality that transforms seasoned leaders into extraordinary ones: vulnerability. That doesn’t mean opening yourself up to weakness—it means acknowledging that leadership today requires a new kind of strength, one that allows for honest reflection, admitting when the answer isn’t clear, and creating a culture where your team feels safe to do the same. Your workforce of tomorrow will expect it, in fact, demand it.  

Well-Being Is Not Optional—It’s Leadership Preservation 

As leaders, you’re expected to be a beacon of clarity amidst chaos. But how can you provide that if your tank is empty? Self-care might sound like a cliché, but in today’s high-pressure environment, it’s about survival. We’re not just talking about a day off here and there—we’re talking about embedding well-being into your leadership DNA. Because when you’re burnt out, everything suffers—your team, your judgment, your ability to innovate. 

You need space to recharge, whether that’s through downtime, reflection, or stepping away for a true reset. Ensuring that you have the bandwidth to unplug isn’t just about self-care—it’s leadership self-preservation. 

Collective Leadership: It’s Lonely at the Top, But It Doesn’t Have to Be 

You know better than anyone that leadership at this level can feel isolating. But it doesn’t have to be. Peer networks, mentors, and coaches aren’t just support—they’re critical lifelines. Senior leaders across the sector are facing the same pressures, the same impossible expectations. Tapping into that collective experience can help you gain new perspectives, avoid pitfalls, and strengthen your resolve to keep pushing forward. 

There’s strength in numbers, and connecting with others navigating similar challenges ensures that you’re not carrying the weight of the world alone. 

Leadership Isn’t a Sprint—It’s a Constant Journey of Upgrading 

Let’s be clear: professional development at your level isn’t about basic skills. It’s about sharpening the edge, adding to an already vast toolkit. But in an environment where everything from public trust to digital transformation is in constant flux, even the most experienced leaders need space to evolve. Whether it’s expanding emotional intelligence, honing crisis management skills, or developing future foresight, continuous learning is what keeps you agile and ready to pivot. 

This isn’t about training—it’s about upgrading. Just as your iPhone receives regular updates to keep functioning at its best, your leadership needs constant refinement to meet the evolving demands of your role. That upgrading in turn shapes the capability requirements of your aspiring, new and developing leaders. 

Celebrate Every Win: Powering Through the Storm 

Leading through this much change is a marathon, not a sprint. Every milestone, every step forward, deserves to be celebrated because it’s these moments that fuel your journey. Acknowledging progress, no matter how small, keeps the fire burning. It reminds your team—and yourself—why you’re doing this work, why you’re building windmills instead of walls, and why it’s worth continuing even when the winds are fierce. 

In the end, it’s about equipping yourself—and your teams—with the tools, perspectives, and support systems necessary to thrive in an increasingly complex world. You don’t need training—you need continuous evolution. By embracing system-wide thinking, vulnerability, well-being, and collective leadership, you’ll not only survive the storm—you’ll turn it into power for your community’s future. 

So, join us if you haven’t already. The WMOD Elite community has started to #buildawindmill by exploring and crafting the future of leadership development 2.0.