By Rick Davis, ICMA-CM

Most local government managers are eventually going to experience bumps along their career path. These may manifest themselves as fiscal or natural crises, dysfunctional elected bodies, or a host of other things that may cause us to rethink whether we have selected the right career.

Indeed, our profession can present us with a literal roller coaster of emotions and obstacles. The one experience that nearly all managers try to avoid, though, is the one that we commonly call “in transition.”

Having been there myself, and having watched my colleagues pass through the same experience over the course of two decades in city management, there is advice that I believe I’m qualified to offer. Which I believe, if employed correctly, will allow a manager to not only endure temporary separation from active management, but also emerge in a better situation.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

First and foremost, before you can move on, you need to realize that there are a thousand reasons why a manager may have to transition, and nearly all of them have nothing to do with your competency. One of the more destructive things a manager can do when separated from his or her organization is to spend precious energy second-guessing and endlessly reviewing what could have been done differently before the separation.

Discipline your thoughts, and keep your eye on the future. Do this regardless of whether you were terminated by an elected body, your contract was not renewed, or you voluntarily resigned. While your thoughts are in the past, you will not be able to move forward.

Develop a Plan

Just like you have been trained to do over the course of your career, take ample time to evaluate the situation and develop a rational plan. Because emotions are high at this time, you will want to seek out the advice of your spouse or partner and/or other family members, including a mentor or someone in the profession whose opinion you respect. Also talk with trusted friends and others you know who have your best interests at heart and who can help you emotionally navigate the situation.

The common inclination once a person has lost his or her job is to flood the job market with resumes and applications. Do take time to evaluate your options, considering potential organizations carefully. The fast approach is rarely successful.

Stay Out of the Fray

When a manager transitions, it’s pretty big news. It’s likely that quite a few people will emerge, some in or through the media, who are going to take the opportunity to say things and write things that are of course not true and perhaps downright nasty.

Our profession, meanwhile, is one of the most dignified and, I daresay, respected professions. The vast majority of your family, friends, colleagues, and residents will expect you to continue to behave as a local government manager would behave. Avoid petty fights and protect your dignity.

Not every comment needs to be countered unless it is truly impeding your ability to find another job. Realize that most people understand how almost neurotic local politics can become. What they may not understand is why you chose to enter the fray.

Keep a Routine and Remain Engaged

My wife and I have always maintained an office in our home. Soon after transitioning from the city where I had been working, I reported to this home office at 8 a.m. every morning to begin my work for the day, and I didn’t go to work in my pajamas!

Just as I had been doing for years, I used my lunch hour to get some exercise, and I returned promptly to work afterward. Meanwhile, I filled my day with a variety of tasks.

To be sure, at least half of my day was filled with evaluating potential positions and applying for those that I thought fit the parameters that my wife and I had established. A lot of my day, however, also involved outreach to my colleagues. They all knew that I had transitioned, but I let them know that I was available during this time to assist them in any way they thought appropriate.

Many of your colleagues, and take my word for this, will find ample ways for you to remain engaged in the profession during your transition. It is absolutely crucial that you remain connected. That’s why I also maintained my membership in the local management association and attended as many events as possible.

Not only is this tactic emotionally necessary, but remember that some of your fellow managers may be called upon by a recruiter to provide an evaluation of your competency and standing in the management profession. It doesn’t hurt to remain in the good graces of your fellow managers.

Take Care of the Physical and Spiritual

When you don’t have something externally driving you every day, the temptation will be there to neglect some aspect of your life and pay lopsided attention to simply becoming employed. Please understand that your capabilities to meet this objective are going to be heavily influenced by how well you have cared for other dimensions of your life.

The time during which you are transitioning presents an opportunity to regularly, as Steven R. Covey puts it, “sharpen the saw.” Make exercise and a healthy diet part of your daily routine. Your emotional self cannot disconnect from the physical condition of your body. You are going to need to feel physically good and mentally sharp during this time.

Next, take regular time to read, meditate, pray, or engage in any other activities that build your spiritual capabilities. This includes paying attention to the needs of your spouse or partner. Remember that he or she is also going through a rough time. You are unlikely to perform well in any interview if your physical, spiritual, and emotional selves are in shambles.

Being in transition is nothing to be ashamed about. Most managers who pass through a job loss usually emerge in a better place. Getting to that better place is going to require that you proactively employ tactics that minimize the emotional and potentially physical toll such a career dislocation can cause.

At the same time, maximize your chances for emerging as a stronger manager with an organization that is a better fit for you.

Rick Davis, ICMA-CM, is city manager, Baytown, Texas (rick.davis@baytown.org).