When it comes to public service, many people think of government agencies or the brave men and women who risk their lives on the front lines. But the reality is that public service can encompass a wide range of work, from grant writers to community health workers.
A public service is any work or activity that benefits a broad section of the population. Examples include fire departments, ambulance corps and parks, and the work of private nonprofits like food banks or mental health clinics. In addition, it includes policymaking — decisions made in the interests of society that affect the lives of citizens, or the economy at large.
It also refers to services that are regarded as essential to modern life or that for ethical reasons should be universally provided, such as clean water or medical treatment. Public services can be delivered by government agencies, independent state-funded institutes or public-private partnerships. They may be built and coordinated in many ways, including through central planning.
Regardless of their form, however, all public service requires an investment in a first-rate team. That means leaders must have a strong sense of purpose and a culture that promotes the values of public service. It is also important for public servants to have an internal “public interest compass,” as described by the Center for Public Leadership in its book Leading in Practice, that can guide them when their own career or personal interests clash with giving priority to the public good.
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