The Partnership for Public Service has done a lot of really good work on HR issues in government. In the most recent (September) issue of IPMA HR News Magazine, Bob Lavigna has an excellent article on senior leadership in the federal government. The main points of the article can apply to many organizations:
- Many leaders have technical competencies rather than managerial or leadership competencies leading to an overemphasis on agency specific issues.
- The recruiting and selection process is broken. One result is a failure to bring in external talent.
- Agencies fail to assist external talent with transitions to government roles.
- Competencies are not integrated.
- Development is not a priority.
I guess a simple summary would be – apply basic principles of HR.
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A fellow I know who is one of the elder statesmen of public administration in Canada recommended a book last year which I read and was simply blown away by. Not just a rah-rah motivational lecture, it provides what amounts to a virtual checklist of everything a senior leader in government needs to do. It is guided by a soul-pleasing vision of what government and government agencies are at their core. Kind of the Strunk & White of public-sector management in some ways. I cannot recommend it highly enough. A very quick read, but inspiring and informative nonetheless.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Leadership-of-Public-Bureaucracies/Terry-Larry-D-Terry-Larry-D/e/9780765609595