Public Service Leadership at All Levels
We believe that Public Service lies at the heart of democracy, and through intentional leadership training, we strengthen the organizations that serve our communities. This blog has been crafted to provide a platform for exploration, development, and growth, all the while ensuring access to the latest best practices and research.
Leadership and Management Information
Navigating Sustainability: Local Officials Share Community-Based Approaches
The study “How Do Local Officials Conceptualize Sustainability as Practiced in Their Communities?” explores how municipal leaders define and apply sustainability in their local contexts. Co-author Rachel Krause, a professor at the University of Kansas, highlights the variation in how communities approach sustainability—some seeing it as a broad goal, others emphasizing specific actions. Key findings include varied local definitions, a focus on measurable projects, and the importance of com
Building a Better Leadership Network: Gender, Communication, and Inclusion in Public Administration
In today’s evolving public sector landscape, building strong leadership networks is essential for fostering innovation, collaboration, and trust across organizations. But how those networks form — and who gets included in them — can be deeply influenced by gender. Nicole Humphrey, assistant professor at the University of Kansas, offers critical insights into this intersection through her research on organizational behavior and communication in local government.
KU Public Management Center announces new director
Kristi Northcutt will direct the center that provides professional education and leadership development programs and events for public service professionals across Kansas and beyond.
The five essential functions of leadership in high-performing organizations
High-performing organizations are not built by chance. They are built through intentional leadership that embraces five leadership functions that ensure sustained organizational success. These functions — strategic stakeholder value analysis, vision and values implementation, suprasystem integration, learning and renewal, and enabling and empowering — offer a comprehensive framework for building high-performance organizations.