This article is written by Luana Faria, Coordinator of LA-BORA! gov; Marina Marinho, Social Policies Analyst, LA-BORA! gov; Paloma Abelin, Social Policies Analyst, LA-BORA! gov; Isabela Blumm, Social Policies Analyst, LA-BORA! gov; and Marilia Resende, Psychologist, LA-BORA! gov.

  • The problem: The necessity to nurture a culture of trust in the public sector in Brazil and to empower public servants.
  • Why it matters: When public servants feel valued and psychologically safe, they perform at their best, ultimately benefiting both individuals and society. 
  • The solution: The essence of fostering innovation in government lies in creating an environment where public servants feel psychologically safe.

In the ever-evolving landscape of public service, innovation isn't just a choice: it's an essential element for progress. But here's the catch: real innovation hinges on something often overlooked – psychological safety. It's about creating an environment where public servants feel secure to share their ideas, take calculated risks and drive towards necessary change. This is the story of LA-BORA! gov, an innovation lab in Brazil, and its remarkable journey in making this happen. 

The story of LA-BORA! gov reminds us that true progress begins with a safe space for ideas to flourish and public servants to thrive.

LA-BORA! gov was born from the vision of public servants who saw the pressing need to renew the way the government operates, considering the importance of filling gaps in innovation, creativity and trust in the work environment. The goal was to empower public servants, foster collaboration, and nurture a culture of trust. Why? Because when public servants feel valued and psychologically safe, they perform at their best, ultimately benefiting both individuals and society. 

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The journey

We used leadership as the beacon: LA-BORA! gov prioritised leadership training and practice, equipping leaders to create an open and supportive environment through various offers for public servants in Brazil. This simple yet powerful step paved the way for psychological safety. LA-BORA! gov also started from inside various and continued practices towards psychological safety. 

Policies that ‘Put People First’: Employee-centric practices were introduced, acknowledging the importance of work-life balance, wellbeing and leadership attitudes for creating a fertile atmosphere for innovation. 

Spread the word: LA-BORA! gov aims to spread the word of psychological safety and create a psychologically safe workplace in the Brazilian public administration. By employing those practices, public governments can improve their decision-making, foster innovation, improve employee morale and productivity, and build trust and credibility with the public. 

An example of how we put into action what we preach about psychological safety is our weekly team meetings and mentoring sessions, when we spend some time building and nurturing relationships with our colleagues. During these moments, we make a sincere effort to truly listen and openly share the issues that affect us, whether they are personal or professional in nature.  

The results 

From 2020 to 2023, LA-BORA! gov's impact spoke volumes: 

  • Over 300,000 public servants were positively influenced. 
  • Astonishingly, 99% of service evaluations provided by LA-BORA! gov were either good (28%) or excellent (71%). 
  • The lab reached 298 public administration agencies. 
  • An impressive tally of over 400 successful deliverables. 

What's the core message in this tale of transformation? 

Psychological safety Is paramount: The essence of fostering innovation in government lies in creating an environment where public servants feel psychologically safe. This isn't just about policies; it's a cultural shift that reaps rewards for individuals, organisations and society at large. 

Leadership matters: Empowering leaders with the tools to build trust and create openness can set the stage for remarkable change. They must be trained to build trust and create an open environment where employees feel safe to express their ideas and concerns. 

Open communication: Encouraging open dialogue among team members fosters a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Debriefings of the work done, continuous feedback and investment in truly listening to each other are frequently encouraged.   

Diversity and inclusion: Diversity and inclusion are integral to LA-BORA! gov's mission. A diverse workforce enhances the employee experience, maximises performance and accounts for proper representation in the public sector, thereby creating public value for both individuals and society. 

Human-centred design and capacity building: The lab employs human-centred design workshops and other innovative approaches to connect civil servants within the government. This not only redefines the relationship between the government and its employees but also helps in creating a more inclusive, transparent and accountable administration, that diminishes gaps between formulating and implementing local policies. 

Accountability without micromanagement: High-trust organisations hold people accountable without stifling their creativity and autonomy. 

Never stop improving: LA-BORA! gov's journey is ongoing. Regular feedback and continuous improvement are essential to keep the flames of innovation and psychological safety burning bright. 

In a world where innovation isn't a luxury but a necessity, the story of LA-BORA! gov reminds us that true progress begins with a safe space for ideas to flourish and public servants to thrive. 

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