TAG

skills

CityChanger Sophie Mirpourian: Creative Ways to Listen

Being heard makes us feel valued and identifies priorities for change, but municipalities struggle to do it well. CityChanger and creative Sophie Mirpourian tells us how her idea to use a portable townhall -...

Fail Better! Lessons from Effective Climate Action

Cities have been identified as key actors for reaching adequate emissions reductions, but still fall short on the effectiveness of their actions. The City of Helsinki is no exception. But we have recently begun...

Problem Solving and the Art of the Reframe

This article was written by Leon Voon, Lead Designer & Co-Head at Experience Strategy Design, Government Technology Agency of Singapore, and was originally published on Apolitical, the global learning platform for government. It was originally published here in...

How to Engage Socially Deprived Neighbourhoods

Stakeholder engagement can be challenging at any time but initiating open, constructive dialogue with socially deprived neighbourhoods has its own set of obstacles. Urban Designer Mikaela Åberg has a decade of experience in creating...

How to Get Politicians on Board With Car-Free Measures

Taking space away from the dominant road user — a.k.a. private cars — is a politically sensitive subject and a brave decision for any politician to make. But getting a political buy-in could be...

Making Change Happen: Who to Involve and How to Get Them on Board

Wherever you’re at in your change-making journey, there’s no doubt that you’re going to need a bit of help somewhere along the line. In fact, it’s safe to say you won’t be able to...

How Can We Use Behavioural Insights to Engage People?

This article was written by Emma Sisk for Apolitical, the global learning platform for government. It was originally published here in August 2020. We’re featuring the article with kind permission by Apolitical. A majority of people across most OECD countries...

Better Together: How Cities Can Collaborate for Faster, More Effective Climate Action

This article was written by and for the C40 Knowledge Hub, which delivers cutting-edge insights and practical resources from leading climate cities for others working in city government. It was originally published here in September 2020. We’re featuring...

Urban Planning – “It’s Not Hard Science”

With so many interest groups all wanting representation in the decisions that form our living cities, it isn’t easy getting it right. There will be those who are unrepresented, those involved but who do...

How Public Servants Can Engage Unlikely Allies to Deliver Climate Policies

This article was written by Juan Azcarate, Deputy Director of Energy and Climate Change in Madrid City Council, and was originally published on Apolitical, the global learning platform for government. It was originally published here in...

How Feedback Can Help You Flex Your Problem-Solving Muscles

This article was written by Klaudia Bencze, Social Media Team Leader, European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, and was originally published on Apolitical, the global learning platform for government. It was originally published here in July...

No Time for Trial and Error – How to Lead in a Crisis

Over the last year, we’ve found ourselves in a situation unfamiliar and nerve-wracking to all of us. The pandemic and its impact on people all across the continents have shown us the importance of...

How to Overcome Opposition and Face Backlash

Convincing the “other side” of your idea can be exhausting and frustrating. And if you finally persuade the opposition and continue with implementation, there are still going to be people criticising your idea. How...

How to Advocate for Your Goals

On CityChangers.org, you can find several success stories about cycling advocates, effective car-free campaigns and people advocating for a more liveable neighbourhood. Advocating for your goal is a crucial skill in changing your city...

How to Make Your Project Inclusive

If change in your city is exclusive, it’s simply not good enough. Change needs to be beneficial for every single citizen in your city. As this is a complex issue and certain perspectives are...

Turn a New Leaf: How to Change Behaviour

Initiating a high-impact project is one thing, but what good is it if no one participates? Convincing others to get onboard is about more than just handing them a list of benefits; it’s about...

Collaboration: How to Work Together to Change Your City

Plenty of professionals and residents in your city are hungry for change, just like you. It makes sense to combine forces. Together you can achieve more, faster. But it takes a specific skill set...

Aleksandr Vlasov: Improving Soviet Cities with Comfort, Heritage & Design

Does history affect our relationship with cities? According to Young Leader Aleksandr Vlasov, the Soviet era has left a modernist mark on social attitudes and the physical makeup of Russia’s urban spaces. Thankfully, up-and-coming...