Author: Stewart Liff

Publication Date: 2007

Publisher: AMACOM, American Management Association

Bottom Line:  A desktop reference to assist federal managers/supervisors who are frustrated with the government system when interacting with federal employees.

What It Covers: Unlike many other management reference books, the author shares his government experience and expertise with human resources and management and sheds light on its many nuances.  He also provides a roadmap and reference tool to the potential pitfalls that experienced and inexperienced federal managers face daily.

This book clearly demonstrates that civil service is not the world of the "Apprentice" where you deal with poor performers by simply firing them or reward top performers with a private jet excursion to an exclusive island resort.  Rather the role of the federal manager is to assist and develop staff within the organization.

To assist the federal supervisor/manger, the author provides advice, procedures, methods, anecdotes and examples on how to navigate through the many complexities that federal supervisors and mangers deal with on a day-to-day basis.  He also provides insight with the intricacies of performance, disciple and how to avoid the pitfalls associated with these very complex management situations.

Recommended For:  Federal government supervisors/managers, federal staff seeking supervisory experience, and those who are baffled and/or intrigued with the federal sector. 

About the Author:  Stewart Liff, has bought and worn the tee shirt.  He is a veteran of the federal workforce with 32 years of human capital experience within various federal agencies from the General Services Administration (GSA) to the Department of Defense (DoD).  He rose through the ranks to become a member of the government's senior executive service.  His book is currently being presented to government senior executives in a variety of agencies as a management reference tool.

Excerpts:

"In several of the organizations that I have worked in, union officials would frequently raise issues that from many people's perspective were innocuous.  They would complain about the arrangement of a couple of desks, argue over a short-term assignment for one employee...and so on...I couldn't help but wonder how much of the government's time was being wasted on nonsense.  Sometimes, it almost felt like a Seinfeld episode. That is, a show about nothing."

"Imagine working in an organization that makes it so hard to fire non-performers that managers have quit trying...Imagine routinely losing your best employees because you can't pay them what they are worth."

Suggested Backdrop:  Read this book the night before you give your next performance feedback session or have it close the next time you have to deal with a difficult staff member.  If the advice does not prove useful, you can always toss it at the employee but be prepared to pick it back up to assist you when you get the EEO, grievance, unfair labor practice, complaint or assault with a deadly weapon charge.

OhMyGov! Rating:  Not another door stop or dust gatherer.  4 out 4 of stars if used earnestly by federal mangers.