System Delays and How to Manage Them as
Public Leaders
In today’s fast paced world consumers are not used to delays, although many disruptions during the pandemic have caused all of us to expect and prepare for delays. The US government systems were designed for stability of service but with our additive approach to legislating, systems have grown in complexity causing delays in services. Leaders who want to protect long term positive relationships with citizens have mastered the skill set to effectively manage expectations during systems delays.
There are multiple types of system delays: the predictable delays, the preventable delays, and the unpredictable delays. The ability to predict the delay in a system with some accuracy makes it easier for you to build a plan for the delay period. As a leader your ability to manage each one of these delays is critical and can save you and the citizens you serve a tremendous amount of time, stress and lost goodwill.
You can manage in all these delays if you and your team have the skills and practiced responses. System delays should never be a time of silence but rather a time of structured communication, updates and alternative action. A strategic plan for progress updates should be developed for all system delays. This keeps people informed and calm. During the week following the Boston Marathon Bombings the Governor of MA and Mayor had two video conferences a day to keep the citizens up to date and informed. Many Governors and Mayors used this strategy successfully during the recent pandemic.
You can manage in all these delays if you and your team have the skills and practiced responses. System delays should never be a time of silence but rather a time of structured communication, updates and alternative action. A strategic plan for progress updates should be developed for all system delays. This keeps people informed and calm. During the week following the Boston Marathon Bombings the Governor of MA and Mayor had two video conferences a day to keep the citizens up to date and informed. Many Governors and Mayors used this strategy successfully during the recent pandemic.
Learn More About the Public Sector Consortium
The Public Sector Consortium provides public sector leaders with actionable tools that create and sustain high-performing public organizations. More than just a Band-Aid or interim consultancy, our work reshapes the way public leaders approach governance and the provision of public services.
With a faculty of renowned subject-matter experts and public sector practitioners, our programs are designed for cross-agency learning and communication, providing a more holistic learning environment and impactful outcomes. Working with public sector leaders at the federal, state, and local levels as well as in public education, we teach sustainable leadership practices that:
- Balance operational demands with learning and innovation
- Support integrative versus additive approaches to societal needs
- Honor a systems approach
- Promote interdependent leadership practices
- Provide accountability and measurable results
- Balance the complexity of the work with achieving outcomes
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