Innovation isn’t just for tech startups—it’s a driver of success in local government. In a recent episode of the humanscape Podcast, Caitlin Stene, Director of Administrative Services at the City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, expanded on ways municipal leaders can create cultures of innovation, resilience and collaboration. Her insights apply across various industries and provide a roadmap for leaders who want to create positive change in their workplaces and communities, and play a little pickleball while they’re at it.
The Power of Values-Driven Leadership
Leaders in local government must be deeply connected to their purpose. Unlike private sector organizations driven by profit, municipal leaders serve communities and people, making it essential to stay mission-focused.
Purpose-driven leadership isn’t exclusive to government. In any organization, clearly defining and communicating your organization’s Reason fosters engagement and alignment. Leaders should regularly revisit their purpose, ensuring that every decision and initiative reinforces their organization’s core values. At the City of Sun Prairie, core values including “Guide & Grow, and Shine” are the foundation of people practices, driving strategies around leadership development, recognition and performance management.
Building a Culture of Innovation
Government work is often associated with bureaucracy, but values-driven leaders like Caitlin advocate for creating cultures where innovation can thrive. How? Leaders must encourage employees to propose new ideas, create safe spaces where employees can make the learning greater than the experience and both recognize and reward creative problem-solving.
The Role of Psychological Safety
A key ingredient for innovation is psychological safety—the confidence employees feel to voice ideas, challenge the status quo, and admit mistakes without fear of retaliation. When people feel safe to contribute, engagement and creativity flourish. Leaders can build this environment by listening actively, encouraging open dialogue and constructive feedback, and by admitting their own mistakes. In thriving organizations, vulnerability is modeled by leadership.
Collaboration as a Leadership Imperative
Caitlin stressed that collaboration is fundamental to solving complex problems in government. At the City of Sun Prairie, the “Collaborative Heart” value guides these actions. Effective leaders who demonstrate this Sun Prairie value break down silos, build cross-functional teams, and engage diverse stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
It’s not just Sun Prairie that needs collaboration to flourish; Collaboration should be a strategic priority in every organization. Leaders can create a culture that values collaboration by facilitating knowledge sharing and cross-training, and engaging team members in celebrating teamwork.
Sustaining Momentum Through Leadership Development
One of Caitlin’s final insights was the importance of continuous leadership development. For innovation to be sustainable, organizations must invest in training and mentorship to develop future leaders who embrace adaptability and growth. One example of leadership training at the City of Sun Prairie is the series of five workshops focused on shifting to a culture of coaching. Topics included how to give employee feedback, support team members in goal setting and measurement, and more tactical training that instructed leaders how to effectively follow the new performance management process.
Whether in local government or not, leadership development is not a one-time initiative. Ongoing professional development is critical to momentum, as is mentorship and coaching for leaders at any level.
Moving Forward: Applying These Lessons in Leadership
Caitlin Stene’s insights demonstrate that innovation in leadership isn’t about grand, sweeping changes—it’s about creating environments where people feel safe to think differently, collaborate effectively and stay committed to a shared purpose. Living the core values is foundational to both individual and organization growth. Whether you lead in government, business, or the nonprofit sector, these lessons can help you build stronger teams and drive lasting impact.
Catch the full episode featuring Caitlin here.
What’s one way your organization can amplify its core values?