Join getAbstract to access the summary!

The Insider's Guide to Supervising Government Employees

Join getAbstract to access the summary!

The Insider's Guide to Supervising Government Employees

Management Concepts,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Supervising a government staff requires all the usual management skills – and more.


Editorial Rating

8

getAbstract Rating

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Whether government works is a hotly debated topic, but perhaps not for the reasons you’d think. Government veteran and management expert Kathryn M. Johnson makes a compelling argument that when public systems perform inefficiently, poor supervision is the problem. Leading people, she says, is one of the public administrator’s most crucial roles. Yet many newly promoted government managers come to their jobs feeling ill equipped. Johnson and 32 other seasoned contributors provide practical guidance and helpful real-world examples for new supervisors – inside and outside of government. If anything, new public sector managers may wish for more specifically government-related guidance (in fact, the word “politics” appears only once), and new private sector supervisors may be surprised how useful this manual is. Still, if you’re a novice municipal, state or federal agency boss and want to lead your people well, getAbstract believes you’ll gain knowledge and reassurance from this straightforward, applicable book.

Summary

A Chance to Make Your Mark

When top elected officials in the White House and on Capitol Hill formulate policy, who gets to put it into action? If you’re a government supervisor, you do. And the same holds true from Congress to city hall. But you don’t put government’s service to the public into action all by yourself – you must lead your team and work with others, often across multiple departments. The popular stereotype may view government as a vast, creaking, inefficient bureaucracy, but in reality, you have many opportunities as a public administrator to make government run smoothly by inspiring your staff members to perform well.

First, you must decide if you’re prepared to take on the job. Ask yourself if you enjoy inspiring your colleagues, are comfortable providing feedback, and know how to “build trust” and show appreciation to co-workers. If you answer yes, you’ll probably make a good supervisor. Once you’re promoted to public sector management, your initial actions will have visible consequences. Although you won’t accomplish everything overnight, consider these “first steps”:

  • Avoid declaring, “Here’s how it’s going to be around here from now on...

About the Author

Editor Kathryn M. Johnson worked in government for more than 20 years. She is a management consultant specializing in the public sector. The contributors to this anthology include a wide variety of experienced public sector managers.


Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Related Skills

Advance Your Career
AI Transformation
Be Emotionally Intelligent
Build and Maintain Well-Being
Career
Communicate Effectively
Develop Innovative Products
Develop Team Members
Digital Transformation
Public Sector
Future of Work
Enable Digital Organization
Entrepreneurship
Human Resources
Lead Ethically
Leverage AI for Leadership
Live Well
Manage Learning and Development
Market Insights by Industry
Master Collaboration
Plan and Strategize Your Sales
Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Sales
Strengthen Your Digital Literacy
Understand AI
Understand Innovation
Workplace Skills
Lead Strategically
Understand Organizations
Plan Your Career
Practice Humility
Succeed in a New Job
Be Coachable
Become a Mentee
Communicate Transparently
Public Sector Key Players
Lead Remote or Hybrid Teams
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Develop Self-Mastery
Public Sector Best Practices
Leadership
Management
Set Boundaries
Understand Team Dynamics
Provide Feedback
Executive Leadership
Find Meaning
Become More Productive
Delegate Effectively
Dare to be Vulnerable
Manage Teams and Departments
Advance as a Woman Leader
Coach People
Innovation
Lead through Change
Understand Motivation
Build Team Cohesion
Excel at Conversations
Leverage AI for Management
Manage Employee Relations
Navigate Workplace Culture
Public Sector Challenges
Understand Organizational Change
Work Remotely
Cultivate Curiosity
Take Personal Accountability
Discover Cultural Trends
Drive Change Without Authority
Collaborate Virtually
Facilitate Group Ideation
Manage Team Boundaries
Champion New Ideas
Understand Leadership Approaches
Enhance Team Agility
Drive AI Transformation
Understand AI Impact on Work
Become a Self-Driven Learner
Navigate Uncertainty
Promote Generational Inclusion
Personal Growth
Foster a Culture of Innovation
Manage Up
Foster Ownership in Others
Enhance Employee Experience
Build Digital Culture
Tech Impact on Work
Increase Your Cultural Awareness
Manage People and Talent
Facilitate Discussions
New Work Models
Strengthen Team Collaboration
Lead Inclusively
Support Others
Master Interpersonal Skills
Practice Servant Leadership
Soft Skills
Guide Teams Through AI Transition
Motivate Your Team
Practice Transformational Leadership
Improve Team Performance
Shape Organizational Culture
Navigate Leadership Challenges
Cultivate Flexibility
Offer Flexible Work Arrangements
Manage Sales Teams
Navigate Office Politics
Foster Team Culture
Manage Change
Manage Your Leadership Impact
Drive Team Performance
Embrace Change
Become More Adaptable
Develop Self-Awareness
Age Well
Build Psychological Safety
Understand Yourself
Lead Yourself