Three Laws of Open Public Servants

Note: This is a re-post from my blog that I wanted to share directly w/the Govloop community, your feedback is appreciated)

1. If you don’t act, you don’t exist
2. If you don’t share, you can’t engage
3. If you can’t act or share, you can’t empower

Act, share and empower. That’s what we want, and that is what public service renewal (or if you prefer #gov20) is at it’s core.

(Note: This post was prompted by some great work done by David Eaves, namely the three laws of open government piece.)

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4 Comments

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Scott Primeau

Nick, that’s a great reminder of what we (government employees) are doing here. Our jobs exist because at some point in time people decided the service we provide should be widely available. Just like a private company seeks product feedback to improve, government should seek constituent input. Unfortunately, I think some governmet employees forget who they’re serving and that, after all, we’re all citizens first.

Nicholas Charney

Thanks all for taking the time.

@Scott Primeau: The point around being citizens first is one I have been hearing raised repeatedly and bears more reflecting on all our parts.

Cheers!

Craig Thomler

I love the concept Steve.

However there is a question I struggle with – do many public servants wish ‘to exist’ in this fashion, making a difference.

Or do many prefer to simple take home their paycheck?

I think that fostering and selecting staff on the basis of adesire to improve civic outcomes, as well as professional competencies, is critical in bringing together groups who wish to exist in the first place.

As is killing any cultures that believe that public servants should neither be seen nor heard (therefore NOT existing).