Advice on Openness for Civil Servants

Give consumers power.

That’s the advice from outgoing (in more ways than one) U.K prime minister Tony Blair for the public sector.

“The state today needs to be enabling and based on a partnership with the citizen … public services need to go through the same revolution–professionally, culturally and in organisation–that the private sector has been through … the user has to be given real power and preference.”

And Gerald Baron at Crisisblogger expands on that point:

"That last statement in particular should be a mantra adopted by communicators and none more so than communicators in public organizations. It is the public that determines your future. The trust you enjoy, and respect, is your only real guarantee of the ability to continue your mission. More and more whether or not that trust is maintained or enhanced is on your willingness and eagerness to provide the unvarnished information they want, at their time, on their terms. Holding back, controlling, spinning, managing, doling, hiding–are all certain ways of disrupting and potentially destroying that trust."

There aren’t a lot of bloggers commenting about government public relations. It’s good to see commentary that goes beyond stereotypes, and recognizes the potential for public agencies to take transparency and openness to the next level.

Previous posts:

• Police/Security Dysfunctional Communications Costs Lives
• Cutting through the Bafflegab
• Second-guessing Virginia Tech’s Crisis Communications

Tags: government, civil service, public service, transparency, openness, tony blair, citizens, consumer control