Innovation Mindset

Simple Rules for High-Performing Public Teams

Led by: Alan Zucker

High-performing teams don’t happen by accident, they’re built intentionally. When public-sector teams have the right conditions in place, people show up energized, collaborate effectively across roles, and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.

In this session, Alan Zucker will share a practical, research-backed approach to strengthening public teams using three simple rules that consistently improve how teams work together:

Create psychological safety,
Empower the team, and
Make it simple.

Participants will leave with clear, actionable strategies they can use immediately, whether they manage a team, contribute as a teammate, or collaborate across programs and agencies.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe what distinguishes high-performing public-sector teams and why simple rules can outperform complex procedures.
- Identify concrete methods to empower teams through clarity, trust, and decision-making ownership.
- Apply “make it simple” techniques to reduce friction, improve focus, and increase follow-through in public work.