In this episode, "A Conversation About What Undermines Local Government and Public Service," Michelle welcomes Brooks Williams to discuss how anger and rage are impacting local governments. Brooks is a city manager whose two decades span public and private leadership. He is known for turning strategy into results, such as stronger finances, healthier cultures, and clear metrics that track real performance. He serves the QTF Regional Program, a performance-excellence initiative that helps organizations apply the Baldrige Excellence Framework, continuous improvement, and disciplined measurement to achieve lasting outcomes. A doctoral candidate in Public Administration, with an MPA from Liberty University, Brooks also writes to move leaders from noise to substance. His books, Performative Outrage: How Manufactured Fury Undermines Local Government and Public Service and Rising to Serve: Reimagining Public Administration for a New Era, challenge institutions to prove value through measurable excellence, accountability, and public trust.

Michelle invited Brooks to this episode to explore how anger and rage is impacting small governments. Together, they discuss the challenges and opportunities in public service, particularly in the context of performance outrage and the erosion of public trust. Brooks emphasizes the importance of transparency, civic engagement, and the role of social media in shaping public discourse. He advocates for a shift towards more constructive dialogue and the need for public servants to act as culture shapers within their communities. Brooks also highlights the necessity of civic literacy and education to empower citizens and improve local governance.

This episode was made possible by our partner, The National Association of Rural Health Clinics, and they invite you to rendezvous with them in Reno!!!

Starting October 20th, the two-and-a-half-day NARHC Fall Institute offers a unique in-person agenda, along with three pre-conference webinars the week before. It's a rare opportunity to deeply engage with the pressing issues facing Rural Health Clinics today. Plus, with unmatched networking and a throwback 90s Bash, you'll leave energized and reconnected. Registration closes the evening of October 19th, so don't wait! Head to narhc.org to register.