By Sandra Naranjo Bautista Some say your problems grow as you get older. My daughter just learned to ride her bike, and it reminded me of how challenging it felt when I was little. Now, I’m still learning how to raise a child, which is a completely different level. Riding a bike is a complicated problem; raising a child is a complex one. In the public sector, the problems are different too. In this blog, I focus on complex problems like climate change or child malnutrition, and I share a tool to help you solve them. Complicated vs Complex Problems In the public sector, as in life, there a ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista How good are you at receiving feedback? Do you feel under attack and get defensive, or are you open to it? This blog will give you very persuasive example of how effective feedback can unlock your potential and transform your role in the public sector.  Austin’s story: The power of feedback  Austin was a first grader who was assigned with the task of drawing an accurate, coloured scientific illustration of a tiger butterfly (which looks something like this in real life). He went ahead and created ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista Have you been wondering how on earth you ended up saying yes to all these commitments? Or are you struggling to find the time to do it all? If that’s the case, these four strategies will help you better manage your workload. The iceberg yes  I recently read about the “Iceberg Yes” from Amantha Imber and it struck me as a vivid representation of what many of us experience. The main idea is that when we say yes, we often focus on the positive aspects, the rewards, the tip of the iceberg. However, we tend to underestimate or even ignore the ..read more

By Vinay Vadarevu A key to achieving success as a public servant lies in mastering the art of engaging citizens effectively. This helps you understand their problems to offer effective solutions. For example, when implementing drought relief measures or even social programs, a methodical approach may overlook how the plan is perceived by the people and whether it is providing the intended relief. Engaging with citizens ensures better outcomes. In this blog, I share 5 effective tips to nail citizen engagement.  First, a personal story It is evening, already dark. In the remote hilly ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista If you have ever dealt with the frustration of the bureaucracy as a public servant, or if you have been annoyed at delays or unnecessary red tape trying to get a government service, this blog is for you. I summarize my three takeaways from Sludge, a book about the bureaucratic burdens of the public sector and how to overcome them. It is written by Cass Sunstein, Harvard Professor and former Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs during the Obama Administration. What is sludge As a public servant, you might be thinking about way ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista Trust is essential for effective policy implementation and service delivery. Trust in government affects investment decisions and levels of productivity from the private sector, influences citizens’ engagement and their demand for better public services, and impacts our social cohesion as a whole. Who do citizens trust? In this blog, you’ll find a summary of the Global Trust Worthiness Index 2022 focusing on citizens’ trust in civil servants, government ministers, and politicians. Who do citizens trust? According to the Global Trustworthiness Index 202 ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista This is the roundup of our most popular blogs of the year. Enjoy! #5 The 5 M’s of Development by Harvard Professor Matt Andrews How does change happen in development? This blog gives you five themes that emerge from Professor Andrews’ research and practical work that can help explain what is needed for big (or small) transformations to take place. #4 Politicians vs Civil Servants Politicians and public officials think about public policy differently. Understanding how and why their views and priorities differ is crucial to improve project implementation. This b ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista Women occupy less than half of the leadership positions in the public sector despite representing more than 50% of the population. The presence of women in leadership positions in the public sector is essential. Not only due to gender equality factors but also because there is evidence that their presence generates multiple benefits. In addition to contributing new experiences and perspectives, women’s presence is associated with higher economic growth, better public services, improved performance of public organizations, lower levels of corruption, am ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista Are you struggling to find a balance between work and your personal life?  Have you felt you can give more but you are always dealing with urgent matters that leave the important stuff aside? Even worse, are you thinking about joining the quiet-quitting club? In this blog, you’ll find 5 simple, powerful and effective daily habits that you can build into your routine to become the public servant you’ve always wanted to be. Be proactive When I was a little, my dad told us the kids’ version of A Message to Garcia, a widely distributed essay by Elbert Hubbard. This ..read more

By Sandra Naranjo Bautista In an era of rapid changes, innovation should be part of the public sector’s DNA. At Better Govs, we are fans of sharing useful (did I say free?) resources to help you improve your innovation skills and ease your public sector journey. This blog gives you a brief overview of the Innovation Playbook developed by the OECD’s Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI). Short of time? Check this blog for a summary. You can download the playbook here. I recommend having a quick look at the case studies and toolkits.  Some context In 2019, OECD countries and 5 ..read more