If you run a public agency (police or fire department, 911/EMS dispatch), or are in leadership at a municipal office, you know transparency matters more than ever. Lack of accountability breeds mistrust, and that mistrust can cause safety risks for community members and agency personnel.
There’s a way forward. And it starts with your department.
Trusting Teams Make Trustworthy Agencies
When you’re already cultivating trust and transparency in your department or agency, community trust follows. Fostering greater accountability and transparency often means changing the culture of your office. This is a multifaceted effort that includes:
- Clear Expectations: When people know what “great” looks like from day one, and know that they have the tools, the path, and the support they need to achieve that greatness, then your entire department will be motivated, principled, and focused.
- Ongoing Feedback: The culture of your department or agency is built one piece of feedback at a time. If your feedback tools and systems allow for open, constructive exchange, feedback becomes a helpful asset (rather than a toxic liability) in your department. People know how they’re doing and where they stand at any point, so there aren’t any unpleasant surprises during their year-end performance review.
Two Indicators of Trust Issues
It may not be immediately apparent if there’s a trust issue (or a transparency problem), at your public agency or municipal office. It’s easy to slip into the “no news is good news” way of thinking and keep going about with business as usual. But there are two indicators of department-wide trust issues that department/agency leadership should be on the lookout for.
- Low Retention/High Turnover: “When employees trust leadership, see fairness, and believe in the future of the organization, they are more likely to stay. High-trust organizations see less than half of the turnover found in typical workplaces, while employees who don’t feel trusted are over twice as likely to look for a new job.” High turnover is a frequent indicator of low trust. If you’ve noticed an uptick, it may be time to make adjustments.
- Low/Reduced Productivity: When first responders, government employees, and other public safety teams know their leadership has their back, they’re more likely to work with confidence and keep their head clear. If you’ve noticed flagging productivity and cagey communication, there could be trust gaps between teams and leaders.
How to Improve Trust and Transparency
No matter what the indicators say, effective leaders always want to improve organizational trust and department transparency. Not only can you do it, you can start today.
- Model it. When leaders themselves communicate clearly, follow through appropriately, and take accountability for their decision making, trust will follow. A trustworthy leader with the right tools and systems can ensure trust becomes part of the workplace culture and remains authentic.
- Set SMART Goals. When you set clear goals, transparency about your progress gets easier. The goals themselves are specific and measurable, and it’s much easier to stay on the same page about progress (or setbacks).
- Check in frequently. There’s no need to keep your check-ins to one a year. Checking in (at least) quarterly with everyone in your organization helps you avoid major setbacks and respond more proactively when obstacles arise.
With the right tools, capable leaders transform their departments for the better. If you’ve been looking for a way to simplify trusting, transparent communication, we can help.
TrackIT Performance Management is a suite of goal setting and performance review tools designed for municipal offices and public safety teams. We can personalize your solution to your department or office. Contact us to get your questions answered and request a free product demo.