Tone Is Leadership. Set It Before the First Faceoff

Before the first faceoff at the World Juniors, teams decide how they want to show up. This time of year, councils have that same choice.

It’s worth remembering that councils don’t just make decisions. They set the tone. That tone shows up everywhere, in council chambers, in staff offices, and around kitchen tables across the community.

Late last year, I wrote about council not being a battlefield, but a family table. That idea still resonates. Families, like councils, don’t always agree. But the healthiest ones know how to disagree without humiliating one another, how to be passionate without being destructive, and how to leave the table knowing everyone still belongs. Councils that operate the same way build trust that carries far beyond a challenging vote.

We have also spent time considering the different archetypes that show up around council tables. The pragmatist. The visionary. The advocate. The newcomer. Each brings something valuable. Trouble starts when a difference is treated as a disruption instead of a strength. The strongest councils are not made up of people who think alike. They are made up of people who have learned how to listen to one another.

That internal dynamic matters more than many people realize. The way councillors treat one another quietly sets the tone for the entire organization. Staff feel it first. Residents are not far behind. When debate is respectful, it signals stability and confidence. When it is not, tension and distraction ripple outward in ways communities feel long before they ever see it reflected in a budget line.

Last year also offered a clear example of what strong collaboration can achieve.

Municipalities across the northeast Avalon came together to deliver a world-class event that no single community could have accomplished on its own. The 2025 Canada Games stood as a strong example of municipal partnership and coordination. Just as important were the volunteers who showed up in every venue, role, and weather condition. They were driven by pride in their communities and supported by leaders who fostered a culture of trust. Their energy and commitment showed what is possible when people feel valued and supported. No council leads alone.

Volunteers sit at the heart of that work. They are often the connective tissue between councils and communities. How councils recognize service says a great deal about what they value. Recognition does not need to be elaborate. It needs to be sincere.

All of this comes back to how councils communicate with one another, with staff, and with the communities they serve.

Clarity has come up again and again this year. Residents do not expect perfection. They do expect honesty. When councils take the time to explain the why, acknowledge trade-offs, and speak in plain language, they build credibility, even when decisions are difficult. Confusion breeds frustration. Transparency builds trust.

As a new year begins, there is value in reflecting on what worked, what was learned, and the relationships built, both around the council table and with the staff who work alongside you every day. Those experiences help set the tone for the year ahead.

The World Juniors offer a useful reminder. Some teams take the ice with familiar lineups. Others bring newer rosters that are no less talented, just less seasoned, together. What makes the difference is a unified coaching team that encourages, supports, and brings everyone along. The tone is set long before the puck drops.

In much the same way, every conversation, every meeting, and every act of collaboration shapes what comes next. When councils lead with intention, respect, and care, and staff are supported as true partners, they create a strong foundation for trust, progress, and a year that feels purposeful from the opening faceoff.

Before the puck drops in 2026, what tone do you want to set, and how will you show up when it matters most?

If you have insights on what I’ve written or on the value of setting the tone early, you can reach me at gail@strategicsteps.ca.