Who Moved My Government? Navigating Change in Public Administration
On May 6, 2025, Leadership Connect and the National Academy of Public Administration brought together a powerhouse panel of experts for a timely discussion on managing institutional change and leading with intention. Held during Public Service Recognition Week, the webinar, “Who Moved My Government? Navigating Change in Public Administration”, tackled the complex challenges facing leaders at every level of government.
Panelists shared real-world experiences, leadership lessons, and forward-looking strategies for navigating transformation across federal, state, and local agencies. Below are the key themes that emerged from the conversation, including insights that public sector professionals can carry into times of transition, innovation, and beyond.
Missed the conversation? Check out the highlights below and watch the whole thing here and make sure to follow our Events Page to get in on the next conversation.
Change Is the Only Constant
Whether it’s in local government or federal agencies, leadership transitions and mission realignments are becoming the norm, not the exception. The discussion emphasized that effective leaders embrace this reality, preparing their teams and themselves to thrive amid ambiguity rather than resist it.
Doing More with Less
Across the board, panelists shared how their organizations are stretching limited resources without sacrificing impact. Strategies ranged from streamlining procurement and operations to rethinking team structures and using automation to free up time for higher-value work. This theme, “more with less”, emerged as a guiding mindset, especially in cybersecurity, workforce development, and IT modernization.
Communication Is Core to Resilience
A recurring theme throughout the webinar was the power of clear, transparent, and frequent communication. Leaders need to acknowledge uncertainty, engage teams in shared goals, and provide direction even when outcomes are shifting. Empathy, authenticity, and responsiveness all came through as critical traits for fostering trust during change.
Build Relationships Before You Need Them
Collaboration doesn’t begin in a crisis. Whether forming statewide cyber response coalitions or aligning with federal and local partners, the speakers emphasized the importance of proactive relationship-building. Investing in trust, shared goals, and communication ahead of time pays off when the pressure hits.
Innovation Requires Intention, Not Just Investment
AI and emerging technologies are reshaping how the public sector operates, but the panel warned against “innovation for innovation’s sake.” Instead, leaders should prioritize thoughtful deployment, staff upskilling, and clear use cases that align with public service missions. Some shared success stories involved reducing manual workloads, streamlining service delivery, and increasing strategic capacity with AI-enabled tools.
Lead with Vision, Adapt with Integrity
Ultimately, the session underscored that leadership is about guiding people, not just managing processes. That means knowing your organization’s mission, understanding your own leadership style, and building a culture that can outlast any one individual. Leaders were encouraged to think not only about what needs to be done today, but how to create systems that remain resilient and effective through inevitable transitions.
How Leadership Connect Helps Navigate Change
Leadership Connect was proud to co-host this session alongside the National Academy of Public Administration. As public sector and industry leaders face growing complexity, our platform supports them by offering real-time visibility into organizational shifts, leadership transitions, and policy influencers across federal, state, and local agencies. Whether you’re forming coalitions, preparing for outreach, or tracking changes that impact your mission, Leadership Connect empowers professionals to act with clarity, speed, and confidence.
Want to apply some of the key takeaways from this webinar to your own work? Here are a few ways Leadership Connect helps users lead more effectively through change:
Track Leadership Transitions in Real Time
- Stay current on who’s in charge and how roles are shifting across government, an essential for navigating uncertainty, engaging stakeholders, and adjusting strategies to fit new leadership dynamics.
Understand Stakeholder Influence at Every Level
- Networks gives users a clear picture of who’s connected to whom inside and outside of government. From academic experts and nonprofit leaders to think tank fellows and advocacy voices, Networks helps you anticipate who is shaping conversations that matter to your mission.
Build Cross-Government Coalitions Faster
- Use Collab to identify interagency partnerships, uncover shared connections, and strengthen collaboration across silos. Whether you’re planning a joint initiative or responding to an urgent need, early relationship insights make all the difference.
Prep with Purpose for Every Outreach
- Go beyond static contact lists. With Leadership Connect’s integrated org charts, bios, and relationship maps, you’ll approach every meeting, email, or pitch with confidence and context, while making your outreach more strategic, timely, and effective.
For a closer look at how our tools support smarter public sector decision-making, book a demo!
