The changing role of Councils

To date, Councils have prided themselves on keeping their communities safe. Their leadership style has closely matched that of a parent creating safety for dependents. In the good times the relationship between Councils and the communities they support has been peaceful and mutually respectful as dependents have felt safe and looked-after. Financial uncertainty has however created some strain in this relationship.

What is needed now however is for Councils to empower their communities to take risks in order to survive the double-dip recession and the impact of an ageing population, which means a signifiant cultural shift and a need to think differently about the Council's priorities. Councils need to embrace the fact that they are interdependent on the support and creativity of the communities they have to date supported to deliver a wider variety of services to meet their own needs. Their role needs to change from 'safety-provider' to 'risk-enabler', a change not to be underestimated (please refer back to the parent-dependent analogy)!

To reduce the risk, it is crucial for Council to be humble, use a more coaching-style of community leadership and be honest, open and transparent in the sharing of information so that communities can make better informed decisions.

What would make Councils feel more at ease with the changes required? I'd really welcome your thoughts and views.

RELATED READING:

Councils' exaggerated risk aversion puts charity contracts under threat -http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/feb/27/councils-risk-aversion-puts-charity-contracts-at-risk

Letting go: how to set public services free from council control -http://www.guardian.co.uk/local-government-network/2012/mar/14/public-services-council-control

Question of the day ... on building trust

Humility is a crucial element in building trust!

Ask yourself - Are you setting standards for others that you yourself, with the best intensions in the world, cannot achieve?

Thought of the day ... on breaking learned dependency

The only way to break 'learned dependency' is to start with a blank sheet of paper, presenting open, transparent and balanced information and collaborate fully with others who are passionate on finding solutions.

In contrast, when a solution is brought to the table by an 'expert', ownership by others is completely lost as:
- no other carries the same passion for the solution
- no other want to step on the expert's toes
- no other will understand the reasons/benefits of the solution in full

Create leaders, not followers!

Idea of the Day ... on Changing Behaviour through Design

In Belgium and the Netherlands they have put large butterfly nets along the cycle paths to encourage people to throw their litter in the right place rather than littering just anywhere. This design is based on a technique called 'Nudge' which uses people's nature/instinctive behaviours as the starting point of any design.

 
Nudge Theory too is used to design care homes for people with Dementia, in highways design and putting low-cost gym equipment in parks.

How else could we use 'nudge' for the benefit of the wider community?

Thought of the day ... on silo-working

The true impact of silo-working, competativeness and lack of collaboration! Does anyone really win?