Better Resident Service Begins with Employee Engagement.

The article focuses on the importance of creating a "circle of safety" within local government organizations to ensure employees feel heard, valued, and safe to express their ideas and concerns. It argues that employees who experience respect and engagement are better equipped to provide attentive a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Public Management (00333611) Vol. 108; no. 9; pp. 40 - 43
Autor principal: DAVIS, RICK
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: International City/County Management Association Sep2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The article focuses on the importance of creating a "circle of safety" within local government organizations to ensure employees feel heard, valued, and safe to express their ideas and concerns. It argues that employees who experience respect and engagement are better equipped to provide attentive and responsive service to residents. The author describes a program called the Elevate Academy, modeled after Denver’s Peak Academy, which fostered a culture of safety and empowerment through process improvement training, resulting in significant cost savings and increased employee trust. The article emphasizes that expecting staff to listen to residents without first listening to and supporting employees is unrealistic, highlighting the need for intentional cultural change to improve organizational effectiveness and community trust.