Brigette Collins, a 2024 graduate of Antioch’s PhD in Leadership and Change program, has written and published a dissertation titled Exploring Staff Perceptions of Meaningful Interactions with Leaders in Local Government.
Collins’ study aims to reduce the literature gap, providing a helpful tool for understanding the follower-centered perspective of leadership in local government. Leaders are essential to organizational success; followers are essential, and follower perspectives of leadership are important. Utilizing the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), this study delves into followers’ meaningful interactions and lived experiences in local government throughout the United States. CIT lends itself to exploratory research that seeks context-rich, firsthand perspectives on human activities and their significance.
Collins found work with vulnerable populations and work-life balance. In addition, Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) and High-Quality Connections (HQCs) were used to explore the relational elements of leader-staff relationships in local government. Her study will add to the minimal literature available regarding staff in local government, providing a valuable tool for understanding the relational aspect of leaders and followers in local government.
With 23 years of experience in accounting and finance in both public and private sectors, Collins most recently held the position of senior accountant in local government. This role gave her valuable insights into the crucial dynamics between leaders and staff within the public sector.
Collins is committed to fostering meaningful transformation in local government and sees herself not just as a finance professional but as a catalyst for change and excellence in service. Her dedication to this principle goes beyond traditional roles; a passion for effecting positive change drives her, and she eagerly anticipates collaborating with local government leaders to promote significant progress where it is needed.
Read more about Collins and download her dissertation here.
