Transition: A conversion conversation

Bob Zachariasiewicz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Department of Labor, recently retired from the federal government after more than 29 years of service.

In that time, he saw, and learned, much with each presidential transition.

FederalNewsRadio's Jane Norris worked with Zachariasiewicz as his political counter-part at Labor.

She begins the conversation by asking what changed when he became a member of the Senior Executive Service.

A: As a senior manager I had more power and therefore more responsibility in managing the agency.

Q: From that perspective, what are the biggest challenges that SES managers face in a political transition?

A: The career manager should act as an honest broker between the political leadership and the career employees and help both to get the job done.

Good political managers will depend on agency career employees to help carry out their mission. One of the primary responsibilities of the political manager is to carry out the policies of the new administration. The better the political manager can explain what is wanted and needed, the better product and services the career manager and staff can deliver.

Q: What happens within the agency as the transition gets underway?

A: The savvy career manager will demonstrate his or her value to the new leadership team. And the message I have always sent to the new political team is that I will give a 110% effort to get your mission accomplished, as long as what you are trying to do is ethical and legal.

Q: How long does it take for the new political management team to function effectively?

A: Usually three to six months and during that time both sides are getting to know one another. Political and career managers should both respect the professionalism of the other. For instance, in the situation where there is not a relationship based on trust and respect, the new political manager may ask: "What color is the sky?" And the career manager simply answers that it is blue. However, when the political and career managers share a good working relationship the career manager may say that "the sky is blue right now, but last night it was pink. Now let me go to the files and see if it has ever been any other color."

It is also important that the political appointee appreciate that the career managers bring their insight and experience to help realize the political manager's goals. In turn, the career official should never say something can't or shouldn't be done. Rather, it's better to find out what the political manager wants to accomplish and then give options, rather than create obstacles.

Q: What pitfalls can be avoided?

A: The new Administration has new ideas and will want to accomplish them as quickly as possible. New political managers need career managers help to stay within legal guidelines and adhere to the regulations of the agency.

I would advise career managers to listen to their political managers and find out about key priorities. Careers should employ a degree of diplomacy and offer pros and cons on proposed changes. Both sides will have legitimate concerns.

Q: Are the management styles of career managers different from political managers?

A: If the lines between career and political managers are blurry, that generally means that there is an excellent working relationship in place. During a transition there is a trust building effort that must take place on both sides.

Remember the political manager has been entrusted with the work of the agency by the newly elected president. And the job of the career manager between 9 and 5 is to carry out the will of the people as expressed through the election of the President. In other words, it is the career manager's sworn duty and responsibility to do the job regardless of personal beliefs or political philosophy.

Q: Is the extra responsibility of being an SES manager worth the effort?

A: There is a great deal of responsibility connected to an SES position, but I was able to accomplish a lot and it was definitely worth the effort.

Zachariasiewicz, now "retired", spends his time consulting federal agencies in public affairs when not discovering new ethnic restaurants in Washington.

Jane Norris is a former fed and current host of the Federal Drive. You can reach her at jnorris@federalnewsradio.com