Leading Change in Local Government: Insights from Henrico County’s Terrell Hughes

Yesterday, LeaderGov welcomed city and county leaders from more than twenty states to our national workshop on Leading Change in Local Government. Our featured guest was Terrell Hughes, Director of Public Works for Henrico County, Virginia—a community widely respected for excellence in operations, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

Co-founders Bill Stark and Lindsay Snyder interviewed Terrell about his real-world experiences leading organizational change, and he delivered a goldmine of practical wisdom for local government leaders. Below is a recap of the key themes he shared, expanded with context and lessons that apply to every city and county team.

1. Keep the Focus on the “Why” — Over and Over Again

Terrell stressed that effective change leadership begins with a relentless commitment to communicating the “why.”
In local government, employees often carry decades of experience with e...