I watched Support Your Local Sheriff, a cheesy movie from 1969 where a newcomer takes the job of sheriff in an Old West settlement. The town hasn’t had success in retaining its three previous sheriffs, but James Gardner’s character takes the job to make some money while he’s passing through.
The first question the new sheriff asks is: “Where is the jail?” Even though it’s the Wild West, actions need to have consequences and the sheriff needs a way to enforce them. He promptly arrests for murder a member of the meanest family in town. It sets the tone for everyone else’s behavior going forward.
Supervisors could benefit from acting like the sheriff and holding people accountable — right from the start, even if it involves taking action against a powerful person. Setting expectations and outlining norms early in your tenure helps deter others from pushing boundaries and creating behavior that causes problems down the road.
Early on, clarify what’s acceptable (and not) instead of waiting until it comes to a metaphorical shoot-out.
