Local government leadership is accelerating. Competence and professionalism still matter, but they are no longer sufficient on their own. This article explores how city managers and public sector leaders can adapt without abandoning their core values.

City managers today face a new kind of challenge: local-level cancel culture. When criticism turns personal, leadership becomes survival. This article explores how misinformation, organized outrage, and political pressure collide — and what public sector leaders can do to protect their reputation, their team, and their wellbeing.