Public service is
one's own sacrifice in order to better serve and protect a greater cause that
is bigger than a personal cause. Those of us that are directly affiliated with
the military can relate. There are a few traits that shine through a public servant
that are common across many platforms of public service. From my
perspective, I have witnessed the sacrifice and character of senators,
policemen, military personnel etc. The few values and traits that stick out to
me, and truly form a charismatic and emblem of public service are integrity,
sacrifice, perseverance.
Integrity is a value
that employers can see through you. Whether you know it or not, results are
evident in the way someone carries themselves. Just because someone isn’t
watching does not mean you are going unnoticed. Unpreparedness and lackluster
performance are self-evident if you hold no standard of integrity. Improved
performance and successes are highlighted through integrity and the way
information is presented. Integrity is the number one trait that is emphasized
throughout the military. Do the right things when nobody is looking and when
everybody is looking the right things are presented to you. Whether you know it
or not, people are very good at seeing through you.
Sacrifice is
something that is very fond with military affiliates. Often, the work and commitment
that is required of men and women in such fields is grueling. However, this
gives us grit. There is no task as an intern that is as demeaning and grueling
as the training that we have been through. Use this to your advantage, go the
extra mile when others are unwilling to do so. Do not hold your head above any
task. Sacrifice is a key role in public service, for military members it means
poor pay/long hours and long distances spent away from family. In all facets of
public service, the pay is not great and the reward comes through your sacrifice
and one should never forget that.
Perseverance is a
core trait to every public servant. This goes hand in hand with sacrifice. In
order to get through sacrifice, you have to have perseverance. Perseverance is
something that you learn quickly in the military. The people you train with
come from all corners of the country. People are from different cultures and
have different views on everything. Down to our core, we are all people. With
this in mind, perseverance is sought through friendship and lifting others
along. No matter the person, you always bend an ear or lend a hand. A common
saying is that ‘you are only as fast as your slowest runner’ so work on each
other and lift each other high.
These traits are
essential to developing a great leader in public service. Most public servants
that I have met have demonstrated these traits in one form or another. Never
forget your integrity and be willing to sacrifice everything you have and you
will persevere through any obstacle.
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