The Weight of “Loyalty” in Public Service
If you’ve spent any time in city leadership, you’ve heard it: We need you here. You owe it to the staff. The council is counting on you. The community needs stability.
Loyalty is sacred in public service. It’s also one of the most dangerous traps. Many executives stay in roles long after the alignment is gone, not because the work is still meaningful, but because walking away feels like betrayal.
The truth? Staying solely out of obligation doesn’t serve anyone. Not your staff. Not your city. Not you.
The Cost of Misplaced Loyalty
At first, staying for the sake of others feels noble. You put the team before yourself. You weather council storms because the city needs consistency. You sacrifice your health to keep the ship steady.
But misplaced loyalty quickly turns into depletion:
- Your energy collapses. No vacation restores you. You wake up tired.
- Your relationships suffer. Family and friends get whatever’s left after you’ve given everything to the job.
- Your leadership effectiveness drops. Decisions feel heavier, confidence disappears, strategy becomes reactivity.
This isn’t loyalty. It’s martyrdom. And martyrdom doesn’t build sustainable city organizations.
Reframing What Loyalty Really Means
True loyalty isn’t about sacrificing yourself until there’s nothing left. It’s about serving with integrity, and that starts with alignment.
When you align your role with your values, energy, and capacity, you model sustainable leadership. You show your staff that caring for the city doesn’t mean breaking yourself in the process. You demonstrate to council that effectiveness comes from clarity, not overextension. You remind the community that healthy leadership creates healthier cities.
Alignment isn’t selfish. It’s service.
When you lead from depletion, the whole system feels it. When you lead from alignment, everyone benefits.
The Signs You’re in the Loyalty Trap
Pay attention to these signals:
- You feel guilty even considering leaving. The thought alone makes you feel like you’re abandoning your post.
- You tell yourself “just one more year.” And you’ve been saying that for three years straight.
- You’re sacrificing your health or family. But you justify it because the city needs you.
- You’ve lost your sense of purpose. You’re staying because of duty, not passion or clarity.
Recognizing these signs isn’t failure. It’s an invitation to step back and ask what loyalty really looks like for you now.
Choosing Alignment Over Obligation
Sometimes the most loyal act is stepping away.
Leaving a role doesn’t mean abandoning your staff, council, or community. It can mean giving them the gift of a leader who’s truly aligned, whether that’s you in a different role, or someone new stepping into the seat.
Choosing alignment might look like:
- Transitioning out gracefully so your staff doesn’t inherit your burnout
- Taking time to realign your identity before re-entering leadership
- Redefining how you serve your community in ways that are sustainable for you
When you choose alignment, you don’t diminish your legacy. You strengthen it.
Final Thoughts
Loyalty is beautiful when it’s grounded in truth. But when loyalty becomes obligation, it slowly erodes the very effectiveness you’re trying to protect.
You don’t have to break yourself for the sake of appearances. You don’t have to sacrifice your health, your family, or your clarity to prove your dedication.
Real loyalty isn’t staying at all costs. Real loyalty is leading from alignment, where your service is sustainable, your energy is protected, and your leadership remains worth it.
When you choose alignment over obligation, you’re not just honoring yourself. You’re honoring the city you’ve devoted your life to.
