5 ways governments can rebuild trust in 2018
From focusing locally to increasing transparency: simple modifications in behaviour can go a long way…
In the past 12 months, we’ve seen yet another hugely significant drop in the trust people have for their governments. The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer has revealed trust levels in government have fallen by 41 percent in 14 markets, and it is the least trusted institution in half of the 28 countries surveyed. The Cambridge English dictionary declared populism its word of the year, and voter apathy is at an all time high.
It’s clear that government organisations are in the firing line — politics and democracy are words often met with real disdain — and something needs to be done to rectify this to ensure cohesion within communities.
But we don’t need total revolution to ensure we re-engage people and get to a place where everyone feels as if their voices are not only heard, but matter. There are some small behavioural shifts governments can make that will create a lasting positive impact on the public’s perception of them.
1. Involve people in policy
Collaboration is vital for better government performance.
But the co-creation of policy and projects shouldn’t be kept within the walls of government offices. Reaching out to the people who will be directly impacted by the policy that’s being created allows for the crowdsourcing of ideas which will have an understanding of the practical implications. This therefore empowers those who participate to better understand the complexities faced by government.
2. Be transparent
It’s not just a matter of what government organisations do, but how they do it. Transparency and accountability are fundamental to rebuilding the public’s trust; a deficit in either can undermine any performance gains a government makes.
Information on priorities, funding, deadlines and outcomes should be readily available in a clear and concise way to highlight to citizens a) what they can expect to happen, b) how it will happen, and c) when it will happen, even information stating “we have no progress due to x,y and z” is better than a void of information, so no retroactive tension and distrust can form.
It’s worth noting that both transparency and accountability are ongoing processes that need continual adaptation.
3. Focus locally
We have a need to belong and be accepted, but we need this longing to be tangible and noticeable. It’s much simpler to care about affecting something when it touches you. Government organisations can therefore hugely benefit from building communities locally, and ensuring their citizens are part of something that has a direct impact on their life. This can be anything from requesting input on waste collection days or asking for preferences on how funds are invested, to organising fundraising events and talks. When people feel like they’re impacting things they can see, they’re far more likely to engage on a more national level.
4. Be active, not passive
I don’t know who in government represents me. Or what they can do for me. I don’t know how I can contact them, or what change I can affect. I only ever hear directly from those who work for me when it’s time for an election. It’s so easy, therefore, to feel as if all these politicians care about is your vote. Actively reaching out into communities to gain input, ask opinion and gauge feedback would go an incredibly long way to re-engaging people and rebuilding trust.
Creating personal, face-to-face relationships is invaluable.
5. Embrace digitalisation
We live in a digital world, and yet the number of governments who have embraced the use of technology is embarrassing. The average person spends four hours a day on their smartphone, and can do everything from book a taxi to meditate, and yet applying for a tax code, passport or business license frequently involves a stack of paperwork and queuing to see a representative. Moving processes online and ensuring information is easy to find will remove feelings of resentment for government that come from waiting for three hours to register a new address!
All of this stems from the need for government to take the time to understand its people. People’s lives have always been influenced by trends that transcend borders and boundaries, as well as changes at the local level. What’s different now is that governments need to adapt those they serve, and not continue to use archaic systems. The problem of low trust in government is that it can’t be solved with the approaches that failed to prevent public trust from crumbling in the first place. Building trust in government requires a willingness to reform. A few simple changes would go a long way to reconnecting with people, and allowing them to start rebuilding trust.
