In today’s political climate, the relationship between civic leaders and citizens is under increasing strain.
On the Radical Respect Podcast, I joined hosts New York Times best selling author Kim Scott and government transparency expert Wesley Faulkner to explore how local governments can foster a culture of mutual respect between leaders and their communities.
The rise of bullying and harassment in civic spaces threatens to derail vital public discourse, and in extreme cases, disrupt the delivery of essential services.
Drawing from my civility tour, book Save Your City and over two decades of experience in civic leadership, I shared the nature of the toxic civic environments I’ve witnessed, where communities slip into what is described in my book as “Bullyville". In such a space, respect erodes, and collaboration becomes nearly impossible. However, escaping Bullyville and restoring healthy civic culture is not only possible—it is essential.
🎧Tune in to hear practical pathways for restoring a culture of respect and fostering self-governance. As I noted, civic culture isn’t something that just happens. It is cultivated. By taking responsibility for the behaviors we tolerate and promote, we can reshape our communities and revive the core values of democracy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
👿The Bullyville Effect: Toxic behavior in civic spaces can paralyze communication and collaboration, with far-reaching consequences for public service delivery.
🙏🏽Restoring Respect: Mutual respect between civic leaders and citizens is fundamental for effective governance and democracy. Be an Upstander! We share many ways you can stand up for others.
🌿Culture is Cultivated: Civic culture doesn’t evolve by accident—it’s shaped by the behaviors we foster, tolerate, and celebrate.
🕴🏽Leadership Matters: Local leaders must take an active role in promoting respect and collaboration, setting the tone for a thriving community.
⏩Pathways Forward: There are actionable steps civic leaders can take to rebuild respect, foster democratic engagement, and cultivate a culture of self-governance.
To learn more about "Tackling Toxicity, Cultivating Civility", join us for the first-of-its-kind, free, online Global Civility Summit! This groundbreaking event brings together civic leaders and innovators from around the world to share actionable strategies for creating cultures of respect, civility, and collaboration in our communities and local governments.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and lead the way toward a healthier civic future!
REGISTER TODAY to be part of the movement for lasting change.
Very hard day for me to reconcile my belief and support for this important initiative and my personal direct experiences. The federal public service commission is attempting to re-write my professional history by denying to recognize my past work. It's amazing how a pacifist can be pushed and maligned by these systems and their protectors to the point of border-line hate. The only solution I see is to advocate for limited terms for any public service role. No one gets to work for any government in ANY capacity for more than 8 years - which is about the time burnout sets in anyway. For those who have been in the FPS for the past 25 years or have retired in…