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Consultant urges Grand Rapids commission to build trust, set shared expectations
Summary
At a city commission workshop, consultant Nate Guinzer and city leaders discussed the council–manager form of government, emphasizing trust, conflict as constructive debate, commitment to decisions and clear expectations between elected officials and staff.
A consultant who has worked with multiple municipal governments told Grand Rapids City elected officials on Thursday that improving working relationships across the dais and with staff is the quickest way to get more done.
Nate Guinzer, CEO of Double Haul Solutions, told the group that cohesion among commissioners and staff hinges on four behaviors: trust, healthy conflict, commitment to decisions, and accountability. "Without trust at this table, you're gonna — you're not gonna be able to have as much success as possible," Guinzer said.
The remarks came during a facilitated session that the city manager described as a professional-development workshop for the newly seated commission. City…
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