You may have heard the saying, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. American writer Josh Billings popularized this saying over 100 years ago in his poem “The Kicker”:
I hate to be a kicker,
I always long for peace,
But the wheel that squeaks the loudest,
Is the one that gets the grease.
SWL is the Local Government “Default Setting”
If local leadership had a “default setting,” it would likely be Squeaky Wheel Leadership (SWL). Elected leaders are often fixated with how the Squeakers are going to react to their decisions. Every community has a few folks who work tirelessly to bend their local government to their way of thinking. It doesn’t matter if the issue is heritage, environment, urban growth, social housing, parks and recreation, or economic development. Because most want to get re-elected, local leaders have a built-in incentive to grease the squeaky wheels.
Let’s be clear about one thing: the squeaky wheel, in and of itself, is not bad. In a functioning democracy, every taxpaying citizen should enjoy the right to raise their voice.
The issue is when the prevailing leadership approach to decision making is simply to appease those squeaking the loudest. SWL is not good leadership!
In my experience working with great local leaders across Canada, I have discovered three ways to effectively neutralize the pressure of defaulting to SWL:
Build a strategic plan. I am not talking about a glossy public relations piece! It must be a practical roadmap informed by citizen input with clearly worded priorities, measurable actions, and realistic timeframes. As elected representatives, local leaders have the legitimate authority to take actions, spend money, and make decisions in the interests of your community. An action-oriented strategic plan is the best way to focus limited time and resources on what matters the most.
Connect with your community in meaningful ways. Good leaders pursue authentic opportunities to connect with citizens. Mix and match a variety of old and new communications methods to make it as easy as possible for as many as possible to connect to their local government. Engaging the many isolates the Squeaky Wheel outliers, and it helps align your priorities to those of your community.
Stay the course. Once your strategic plan is done and you know what matters the most, your job as a leader really begins. It is up to you to have the courage to stay the course and get important things done. I have seen good leaders crack under the constant pressure of highly motivated Squeakers who continue to push their personal agendas day in and day out. The best leaders figure out that everyone is not going to like you, and sometimes you just need to say “no”.
Conclusion
SWL is not good leadership. It results in inconsistent, reactive decision-making that frustrates and disengages most people. It is time for local leaders across Canada to establish clear priorities, connect with their citizens, and demonstrate the courage needed to get the important things done. It is this kind of leadership that will enable your community to unlock its potential.
