If we’ve learned anything in the past few years, it’s that government can and will be disrupted. It can be disrupted in many ways—peacefully or violently, internally or externally, technologically or ideologically. I have friends who have government jobs who think they can never be fired or laid off. They have bosses who scoff at the idea of any kind of change or innovation whatsoever. But any number of things can disrupt the government. And if you are a city manager you need creativity to deal with the changes.
According to data from UN statistics, “Today, more than half the world’s population live in cities. By 2050, an estimated 7 out of 10 people will likely live in urban areas”.
City managers need to rethink the way they deliver their products and services. What worked in the past may not work anymore. Innovation enables governments to deliver services better, cheaper and faster. This results in a more streamlined and sustainable local government. To do this city managers need creativity.
Government disruption
Here are some of the ways governments can be disrupted:
Ideological – Every election brings changes in policy. The pendulum swings back and forth and never remains the same. This can mean changes in your budget and other multi-faceted issues that require innovative solutions. An ideological government disruption occurs when the core guiding beliefs or principles of a government are fundamentally challenged or replaced, often leading to major shifts in policy, leadership, or national direction. An example of that is the Iranian Revolution.
Structural disruption – This can be triggered by crisis, war, technology, social movements, economic collapse, or corruption. A structural disruption in government refers to a fundamental disturbance or change in the institutions, frameworks, or functions of a government. This can affect how power is distributed, how decisions are made, or how laws are enforced. An example is the fall of the Soviet Union.
Technological disruption – This can involve the use of new tools or platforms to challenge or bypass traditional government power. An example of this is Estonia’s e-residency program disrupting how nation-states manage identity.
Economic disruption – Economic crises can destabilize or completely undermine a government. This can include a loss of trust in economic policy. Amsterdam and Singapore have created economic development boards that involve the private sector. The opportunity zone tax program was introduced during President Donald Trump’s first term as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The goal was to encourage investments in economically distressed areas by offering specific tax benefits.
Cities evolve
Cities are always evolving. And that means city managers need to stay ahead of that change.
Problem-Solving in Complex Environments
Cities face multifaceted problems like housing shortages, traffic congestion, and economic inequality. Creative thinking allows city managers to approach these issues in non-traditional ways, uncovering solutions that standard procedures may miss.
Resource Constraints
Many municipalities operate under tight budgets and limited resources. Creative managers need to find ways to do more with less. This can be done through partnerships, grants, technology, or community-driven solutions.
Community Engagement
Creativity helps city managers design inclusive, participatory approaches that resonate with diverse populations. It’s about creating spaces, programs, or messages that encourage people to get involved in shaping their community.
Adaptive Leadership
The rapid pace of change, from technological advancements to social movements, requires city managers to be adaptable. Creative thinking enables them to pivot strategies, embrace new ideas, and lead change effectively.
Urban Design and Planning
Creating vibrant, livable cities involves imaginative use of space, architecture, and public amenities. City managers often work with urban planners. Their own creative vision helps ensure that infrastructure serves not only functional but also social and aesthetic goals.
Crisis Management
During emergencies like natural disasters or public health crises, creative solutions can make the difference in how effectively a city responds and recovers. Many cities found this out during Covid.
Turn challenges into opportunities
Creativity helps city managers move beyond maintenance to transformation. This helps turn challenges into opportunities and helps to make cities not just work, but thrive. Another thing to consider as a city manager is that cities are the engines for growth. Competition is high when it comes to attracting talent, businesses, investments and tourism.
So, just like the private sector, competitive advantage is important to local governments. And cities need to solve problems with fresh, new ideas. This requires creativity! The city managers who recognize this will be ahead of the game and will be better suited to attract those businesses, talents and investments they will need to become more sustainable. City managers need creativity to think in a different way.
As an innovation and creativity keynote speaker I’m often called in as an outsider to give organizations a different perspective. As an inventor I rely on my own bag of tricks to generate new ideas for products and services. These are the same tricks I use to teach government organizations how to make them more competitive and sustainable. It’s basically how to think like an inventor.