February 16, 2010 – Business Week – New York, NY, US
The corporate world isn’t alone in searching for more effective leaders. The government is also struggling to develop a new breed of leaders who can drive performance.
Tom Fox, director of the Partnership’s Center for Government Leadership, says that such efforts are especially critical, given the large number of senior leaders who are going to retire in the next few years.
Fox also notes that pockets of strong leadership in the federal government are often created by strong leaders themselves. He pointed the Department of Veterans Affairs, which, under Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, a retired Army general, and Deputy Secretary Scott Gould, has combined the best of both the military and private sector, using search firms, developing executive onboarding programs, and incorporating executive coaching.
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Very interesting article and I applaud the government in understanding that there is a lack of leadership in many levels of the civil service. The problem is that all the rules and regulations designed to foster a sense of fairness bind a leader’s hands. Those ordinances make it extremely difficult for leaders to exercise common sense, be bold in trying times, and encourage their teams to reach the highest of standards. The only exception is the military.