The Swedish Agency for Government Employers (Arbetsgivarverket) asked leaders in central government what they see as their greatest challenges and what support they need to meet them. Three areas came up particularly often.
What are the greatest challenges?
- Leading with confidence through constant change in uncertain times
For many government organisations, change has become a permanent state rather than a temporary effort. Government agencies operate under different conditions. Some need to scale up to meet increased demand, while others need to adapt their operations as mandates, needs or budgets change. The challenge is therefore not only about implementing change, but about setting direction and providing stability and the capacity to act in an uncertain world, since psychological safety, hope and innovation are crucial for finding smart solutions in times of change. - Leading digitalisation and AI in a way that creates value
Technology is developing rapidly and placing new demands on leaders. Many managers need to make decisions about digitalisation and AI without in-depth knowledge of the technology. At the same time, this development must not come at the expense of the rule of law. Government agencies cannot cut corners on legal certainty, privacy or public trust. The challenge is therefore about finding the balance between innovation and responsibility, development and sound judgement. - Securing talent and making management roles sustainable
Attracting and retaining the right skills is one of the most strategic issues for employers today. At the same time, the demands on managers are growing. They are expected to lead change, develop operations and handle new requirements in areas such as security and preparedness. As Ann Follin, Director-General of the agency, points out, managers only have 24 hours in a day like everyone else. If managers cannot sustain their roles over time, it also becomes difficult to provide stability for the organisation.
What support would be helpful?
The leaders point above all to three areas where they need more support:
- Support in building capacity for change and instilling hope in times of uncertainty
Leaders are asking for tools to navigate uncertainty, prioritise effectively and build engagement when the way forward is not always obvious. In a time marked by concern and rapid change, the ability to help people make sense of what is happening, and to instil hope and optimism about the future, becomes increasingly important. Ann Follin keeps a reminder of this at home: a framed print that reads “Fear less, hope more.” - Knowledge of AI, digitalisation and security
Managers do not need to be technical experts, but they do need to understand the opportunities, risks and consequences of technology. Training, sharing experiences and practical examples can provide a better foundation for well-informed decisions. A key question is: Which skills must organisations absolutely retain in-house, and which can they strengthen with AI? - Conditions for sustainable leadership
Many managers are asking for the right support and greater scope to prioritise. For leadership to be sustainable over time, organisations need to create manageable roles with room for both leadership and time to recharge. Leaders need to be able to lead others as well as themselves.
About Ann Follin
Ann Follin is Director-General of the Swedish Agency for Government Employers, the employers’ organisation for the central government sector. She is particularly committed to issues relating to leadership, talent and workforce transition, with a special focus on how organisations can build capacity for change and resilience in a time of rapid technological development and increasing uncertainty.
About the Swedish Agency for Government Employers
The agency is an employers’ organisation and government agency for around 250 employers within the central government sector. Together with its members, it develops and coordinates employer policy and negotiates collective agreements covering around 307,000 employees.
Why these insights matter to us
Ann Follin was a guest speaker at Beyond Talking’s one-year anniversary. Her reflections resonate strongly with what we see in our work with organisations in both the public and private sectors: change is no longer a project but a permanent condition, and leaders need support to create direction, hope and sustainable ways of working. We are grateful to Ann for sharing her insights with us.