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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.
By April Townsend
January 24, 2025
“Beleaguered,” “Scandal-Ridden,” “Alleged Misuse of Public Funds”—Years ago these were the headlines in a local newspaper regarding a government organization where I was working. What emerged during that time led to a number of news stories that deeply impacted the public’s trust in the leaders of the organization. It also left employees wondering whom they could trust.
This experience underscored to me how pivotal trust is to the success of any relationship, but particularly the relationship between citizens and their government. In public administration, trust isn’t t a luxury; it’s the foundation that supports effective governance. We see the lack of trust in poll results showing that many Americans are experiencing declining levels of trust, whether it’s in government, elected officials or each other. Given the current divisive political climate, it would be safe to say that the issue of trust within the public sphere isn’t going away any time soon.
Why Trust Matters in Public Administration
As public leaders, we are responsible for guiding the policies and decisions that impact the lives of those in our communities. The challenges we face require collaboration that balances competing interests across diverse groups and our effectiveness hinges on our ability to foster trust with citizens, our team members and stakeholders both within and outside of our organization. Simply stated, we need trust to solve our problems.
Without trust, even the best policies will fall flat. Yet when trust is present, we have the opportunity to transform challenging situations into opportunities for collective growth and progress. In a nutshell, trust isn’t just a “nice-to-have” quality in leadership—it’s a fundamental necessity.
Key Practices to Building Trust
As important as trust is to a leader’s success, it’s worth acknowledging that trust isn’t automatically given. Earning and maintaining trust takes intentional and consistent effort. Four key components to building trust include:
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced and dynamic environment, trust is more important than ever. It isn’t just an abstract concept, but a tangible asset critical to effective public administration leadership. It’s the glue that holds teams together and can be the catalyst for achieving extraordinary outcomes. In my experience, trust is what transforms a manager into a true leader and leaders who prioritize trust will find themselves not only respected but may also find the key to unlocking the full potential of their teams.
Author: Dr. April Townsend worked in the public sector for over 30 years, holding a variety of executive leadership positions. As a Research Fellow with the Utah Women & Leadership Project, she has published numerous reports and articles focused on leadership, particularly the challenges faced by women leaders. Her email is: [email protected]. Twitter handle: @AprilT2014
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