Resilience. Now.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Patrick Malone
February 24, 2025

The change in the political landscape in our nation has been a drastic one in the last few weeks.

With the arrival of 2025, Americans likely did not anticipate the onslaught of daily news encompassing new directives, sometimes revised the very next day, implemented, then rescinded and on and on and on. Meanwhile, we live in a country grappling with our identity in a political landscape that has been brutally divided for years. And the impact is showing. According to one survey, only 43 percent believe we live in a society in our nation that is fair and decent. Thirty-two percent believe our country is unfair and prejudiced. Less than half of the country feels that we are heading in the right direction. To top it all off, the Wall Street Journal reported in February that the mood of the American shopper is dropping and consumer confidence is on its way down. So much for the price of eggs.

And who finds themselves on the front lines of this chaos?  Civil servants of course.

The disdain that many citizens have for those that work in the civil service, especially in the federal government, is completely unfounded. It’s not that there aren’t poor performers in public service. There are. They exist in the private sector, as well. And they need to be addressed. We all want efficient and effective government. The problem is public workers are often held to a higher standard. Because of their role as civil servants, they are commonly placed under a magnifying glass when any one agency for which they work makes a bad decision. They are somehow viewed as ‘less than’ because they don’t make tons of money in the private sector. They are also unwarranted victims of government mistrust and political rhetoric. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? Especially since all our public servants do is—wait for it—implement the policy that elected officials direct them to!

For the record, what have these public employees been doing since January? Government analysts in many agencies have worked hard together to mitigate a dominant Chinese-developed Artificial Intelligence model. Firefighters and other emergency personnel have been battling wildfires that destroyed many parts of Southern California. Public health professionals at the local, state and federal levels are working to contain a new strain of avian flu. The Federal Aviation Administration have been dealing with multiple plane crashes across the country.

The resilience shown by these heroes is inspiring, even amidst a willfully ignorant general public who knows more about the Masked Singer than they do about the impact of their own city health departments. This hardiness permits our civil servants to maintain a balanced perspective, even when the political world around them churns mercilessly. They continue to preserve the parks, protect the innocent and care for the needy with an enduring spirit. They demonstrate, time and time again, a commitment to those they serve, and the ability to adapt to adversity.

Those who are part of the Positive Psychology school of thought suggest that resilience, combined with hope, optimism and self-efficacy, are the primary constructs of one’s psychological capital. The public service workforce of today embodies these principles. They are flexible and are able to assess situations from different perspectives after every election cycle. They believe in the work they do, and have an enthusiasm for the public they serve, no matter who is in office. They stay the course no matter what the message of elected officials. They have a bigger, more noble calling, and they know it. They are there every day.

The good news is we all have an inherent resilience, but in these challenging times, it can be difficult to find. The goal is to be able to tap into resilience when conditions warrant, to be aware of when this is needed and to act when necessary. Consider asking yourself the following questions: Do I worry about asking others for help when I need it? Do I get needlessly sidetracked when I encounter difficulty in an assignment? Do I struggle with change and uncertainty? Do I get down on myself? Do I learn from my mistakes, or do I allow them to bog me down? Do I get stressed easily?

Resiliency is not for the faint of heart. It requires resolve, courage, and risk-taking. And in the politically charged environment of today, the need couldn’t be clearer. The question is, can our public servants withstand the current barrage on their contributions to our community? Can they continue, under threats to their well-being, to demonstrate the resiliency we all depend on?

I wouldn’t bet against them. Would you?

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Author: Patrick S. Malone is the Director, Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University.  He is a frequent guest lecturer and author on leadership and organizational dynamics in the public service.  His co-authored book, Leading with Love and Laughter – A Practical Guide to Letting Go and Getting Real was released in Spring 2021. His new co-authored book “Little BIG Decisions – A Leader Imperative for Lasting Impact will be available in Winter 2025. Follow him at sutchmalone.com 

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