Next-Generation Government

Had an interesting morning today at the Next Generation of Government Summit in Arlington, Va. The sense of energy in the room at the first plenary session was palpable. This is clearly a group of people eager to make their mark. In fact, it's mildly depressing to attend a conference that is essentially devoted to helping such people learn how to overcome all the obstacles to energetic, creative work in the government context.

Matt Collier, a special assistant to OPM Director John Berry, got things started with an address that was part an update on the project he's working on to make government "cool" again and part a frank pep talk about how to harness the can-do spirit in government.

"Sometimes when I leave work, I want to cry," he acknowledged.

The creation of OPM's workplace innovation lab in the the "sub-basement" of the agency's headquarters building is proceeding apace, Collier reported. Leaders of the initiative deliberately chose to set up the lab in what had been storage space to avoid conflicts. But first, he noted, they had to clear the space of "old forms...from, like, 1992."

When it comes to implementing such initiatives, Collier said, the trick is perseverance. "Change isn't going to happen on the first try or even the second," he said. Those new to government, he said, shouldn't let rules, processes and procedures tie them down, but instead should repeatedly ask why such impediments exist and challenge them if they stand in the way of making initiatives succeed.

But Collier warned against writing off experienced people in government who might seem to be anti-progress. "Chances are," he said, " they've already tried what you want to do." Rather than pick fights with them, learn from their experiences, Collier said.