Today’s Morning Buzz is by Angela Wilson, Deputy Public Information Officer for the Town of Frederick, Colorado. Follow Angela on LinkedIn and Instagram @lifeman_life
What I’m listening to: Shade 45 on SiriusXM
What I’m eating: Homemade Protein Bars
Technology promises to make everything easier. But does anyone really feel that? I know I don’t. If anything, I feel busier juggling messages on different platforms, hopping between software programs, and coming up with the next greatest thing before wrapping up the last, most spectacular program.
In local government, where service is at the heart of what we do, this constant digital hum can drown out the very thing that makes our work meaningful: human connection. It’s in the moments when I step away from the screen, when I’m face-to-face with a colleague, a resident, or a community partner, that authentic leadership happens. We see each other’s vulnerabilities. We share ideas without judgment. We solve problems not because an app told us to, but because we care.
Power vs. Purpose
Some leaders today seem caught in a race for power — driven by money, influence, or pressure from those with their own agendas. When that happens, values fall out of alignment. Decisions start serving politics instead of people. Organizational values become “words on the wall” instead of actions in motion. And here’s the truth: when leadership loses its humanity, it loses its compass. Leadership rooted in human connection brings us back to our true north. It reminds us that success isn’t about titles, control, or personal gain. It’s about trust, transparency, and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.
Re-centering on What Matters
The future of public sector leadership isn’t about being the smartest in the room or the fastest to respond. It’s about being the most real. Emotional intelligence, integrity, and empathy aren’t “soft skills” — they’re strategic advantages. They build psychologically safe teams where creativity thrives, and where staff feel empowered to bring forward ideas that genuinely improve how we serve residents. Technology can streamline processes, but it can’t replace presence. Connection is what makes residents feel heard and employees feel valued. You can’t automate care.
Quick tip: Want to get to know your residents five minutes at a time? Go to the front desk, open the door, and greet the next person who walks in. Ask how they’re doing and how you can help. I can guarantee a resident will walk through the door with a simple need, and they’ll be curious about who you are. In no time at all, you’ll start to feel like a local celebrity.
Staying True to Values
At the core of authentic leadership lies something profound but straightforward: knowing your own values and living them out loud. For some, those values might be love, courage, truth, and joy. For others, they might be strategy, service, fairness, and empowerment. Whatever they are, they guide how we show up in the workplace, in the community, and in our own reflection at the end of the day.
When our personal values align with our organizations’, the work feels purposeful and steady. But when they drift apart, tension builds. That’s often when leaders feel lost, reactive, or pulled by outside influences that don’t serve the greater good. Staying true to both who you are and what your organization stands for is the quiet work of leadership. It’s what keeps integrity alive when pressure mounts. It’s what keeps decisions ethical, transparent, and community centered.
Leadership as Humanity in Action
When we lead with humanity, we model something radical in today’s world: balance. And this might be an eye-opener: being overwhelmed doesn’t mean you care more; it usually means you’re not paying attention to what matters most. Protecting our team’s time and well-being isn’t indulgent; it’s essential to long-term success.
Being human in leadership means making space for curiosity, grace, and growth. It means saying, “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.” That openness builds trust. It invites collaboration. And it reminds people that leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.
Love Where You Are When You Are There
In my own leadership philosophy, I often return to one simple phrase: Love where you are when you are there. It’s a reminder to show up fully, to be present, attentive, and honest. To connect before you correct. To listen before you lead. When we bring our whole selves — values, humanity, and all — to work, we create a culture that feels alive. And when leaders act more down-to-earth, local government becomes more trustworthy.
That’s the kind of leadership that will carry us into the future — not faster, not louder, but more human.