Publications

Ideas for building better government.

Notes on policy, leadership and the craft of public service — from our own work and the wider conversation.

13 July 2026

Why Government Needs More Creativity, Not More Consultancy

Government has no shortage of capable people. The challenge is creating the time, confidence and conditions for them to think differently and solve difficult public problems.

6 July 2026

Why Emotional Intelligence Has Become a Core Leadership Skill in Government

Emotional intelligence helps public sector leaders manage pressure, build trust, influence across boundaries and lead teams through ambiguity and change.

29 June 2026

What Good Policy Development Really Looks Like, and Why It So Often Goes Wrong

Good policy combines evidence, political judgement, delivery knowledge and engagement. It begins with the problem and develops through testing, challenge and iteration.

22 June 2026

The Hidden Cost of Poor Writing in Government

Unclear writing creates meetings, delays and weak decisions. Better public sector writing begins with audience, purpose and the action the reader needs to take.

15 June 2026

The Hidden Cost of Playing Safe in Government

Risk aversion protects public organisations from visible failure, but excessive caution can create larger hidden costs through delay, weak learning and repeated solutions.

8 June 2026

Coaching in Government: Why the Best Leaders Ask More Questions Than They Answer

A coaching approach helps government leaders build judgement, confidence and capability by listening well, asking better questions and balancing support with challenge.

1 June 2026

Why Good Policy Still Fails: The Missing Link Between Strategy and Delivery

Policy fails when implementation is treated as a later stage. Strong public sector delivery begins during policy design, with clear outcomes, realistic assumptions and operational insight.

25 May 2026

Creative Problem Solving in Government: Moving Beyond the Obvious Solution

Structured creativity helps government teams reframe problems, challenge assumptions, generate options and test ideas before committing resources at scale.

18 May 2026

The Leadership Skills Every Deputy Director and Director Needs

Senior government leaders need judgement, influence, systems thinking, emotional intelligence and the ability to develop others, not only technical expertise.

11 May 2026

What Makes Public Sector Transformation Successful?

Public sector transformation succeeds when strategy, delivery, behaviour, capability and communication are treated as one change, not as separate workstreams.

4 May 2026

Challenge the Norms: Creating Better Public Policy Through Better Questions

Better policy begins with better questions. Learn how constructive challenge helps government teams expose assumptions, improve options and make stronger decisions.

27 April 2026

How to Write Better Briefings for Ministers and Senior Leaders

Strong ministerial briefings make the decision clear, present the essential evidence, expose trade-offs and anticipate the questions a senior reader is likely to ask.

20 April 2026

Why Technical Expertise Alone Does Not Create Great Leaders

Technical credibility can earn promotion, but leadership requires self-awareness, communication, influence, judgement and the ability to help other people succeed.

13 April 2026

The Difference Between Managing Projects and Leading Delivery

Project management creates structure. Delivery leadership uses judgement, relationships and adaptation to turn that structure into outcomes under real-world conditions.

6 April 2026

Why Capability Should Be the Goal of Every Consultancy Project

The best public sector consultancy solves the immediate problem while transferring knowledge, developing people and leaving the client more capable than before.

30 March 2026

The Biggest Writing Mistakes Government Organisations Still Make

Government writing often becomes long, passive and unclear because it is produced around internal processes rather than the needs of the reader. Here is what to change.

23 March 2026

Why Most Government Workshops Fail, and How to Make Them Worth Attending

Effective public sector workshops are designed around a clear outcome, active participation and decisions. They do not use discussion to disguise a presentation.

16 March 2026

Why Good Communication Is a Strategic Leadership Skill

Leadership communication creates shared understanding, trust and direction. It helps public sector organisations make better decisions and act consistently through change.

9 March 2026

How Psychological Safety Improves Performance Across Government Teams

Psychological safety enables government teams to raise risks, challenge assumptions and learn from mistakes while maintaining high standards and accountability.

2 March 2026

What Eleven Years in Whitehall Taught Me About Helping Government Work Better

Lessons from eleven years in Whitehall on policy, leadership, delivery, ministers, consultancy and why better government depends on capable people thinking well together.

23 February 2026Civil Service World ↗

Emotionally intelligent leadership in the public sector

Andy Ormerod-Cloke on why emotional intelligence is a core leadership capability for public servants — published in Civil Service World.

Read the article →