Working With Staff Without Crossing the Line

Working with staff is one of the least explained and most misunderstood parts of local government.New commissioners often assume staff works with commissions, or for them.That assumption creates confusion, tension, and sometimes real damage to relationships.In this episode, we break down the basic structure:* Who staff actually work for* Why individual commissioners don’t give staff direction* And how misunderstanding these roles leads to frustration on all sidesThis episode is about clarity, not criticism.Because when roles are clear, collaboration becomes easier, calmer, and far more effective.This is Patrick’s Poor Man’s Guide — local government, in plain English. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit poormanspublishingco.substack.com/subscribe