I was honored to lead a session yesterday called "It's Good To Be Number Two" with an amazing panel and great participants.  Thanks to all of you for coming to the session and sharing your thoughts!

I want to especially thank the panel, who provided excellent insights on why it is so good to be a Number Two!  They also offered tips for others based on lessons that they were able to learn from their varied and unique career paths. Thank you to Penny Postoak Ferguson, Deputy County Manager of Johnson County, KS; Sarah Medary, Assistant City Manager, Eugene, OR; and Victor Cardenas, Assistant City Manager, Novi, MI.  

The awesome "It's Good To Be Number Two" panel and me!

The big takeaway from our session, however, was thanks to the many people who participated in the session and helped us crowdsource a list of qualities that make up a good skill set for a Number Two.  Number Twos have unique roles in an organization, and Number Twos need a special set of skills that will help make us more successful. Together, we all have developed a list that any Number Two, aspiring Number Two, or someone looking for a Number Two can learn from and appreciate.

I have opened a wiki on the Knowledge Network that lists the crowdsourced skill set here: http://icma.org/Wiki/Skill_Set_for_Number_Twos.  Please check out the list and even better, feel free to add your thoughts!  You can also feel free to email me at kepinkos@gmail.com, kpinkos@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us, or on Twitter at @kepinkos.

Let's continue to develop each other as Number Twos and add to the knowledge base.  It is GREAT to be a Number Two!