Leadership strategist and municipal executive Gilmore has published his latest book, Competent Leaders Know How to Succeed, the second installment in his series on leadership. Drawing from decades of public-sector experience, the book provides practical tools for current and emerging leaders, emphasizing that true leadership competence depends on integrity, careful planning, and the courage to challenge complacency.
Gilmore argues that leadership stems less from charisma or positional authority than from strategic foresight, ethical discipline, and transparency. Through real-world case studies and personal experience, he demonstrates how leaders can change organizational trajectories by combining deliberate planning with moral courage. A central theme is that leadership without planning amounts to management by chance.
The book outlines essential tools for competent leaders, including personal planning agendas, third-party evaluations, and data-driven decision-making. Gilmore stresses that budgets and policies are moral documents reflecting institutional values. "Integrity is the bedrock that holds everything together," he writes. "When leaders embrace transparency and strategic planning, real reform becomes not only possible, but inevitable."
Competent Leaders Know How to Succeed addresses practical aspects of public governance, such as managing councils and boards, eliminating complacency, aligning staff through training and communication, and building cultures resistant to political manipulation. Case studies range from uncovering local corruption to modernizing utility governance, illustrating the resilience needed to lead under political pressure.
Rich with actionable guidance, the book serves as both manual and memoir, sharing the author's experiences confronting entrenched systems while advocating ethical governance. It offers a roadmap for planning boldly, acting ethically, and driving organizational renewal, relevant for city managers, board members, executives, and emerging leaders. The book is available in print and digital formats through Parker Publishers.
