Seven tips for surviving the transition

In November 2000, Government Executive's Kellie Lunney interviewed several longtime federal executives to gather their tips on surviving a presidential transition. What they said bears repeating this year.

1. Be patient. Rosslyn Kleeman, who spent most of her federal career with the Government Accountability Office, and also worked in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the Clinton transition, emphasized that getting off on the right foot with the incoming administration often means helping people get accustomed to working in government. "During the Clinton transition, we sent liaisons into the federal agencies, and very often they were campaign workers, or had little government experience. I found that some of the career employees were not as patient as they could have been with them," said Kleeman. John Palguta, a career employee for 32 who served as director of policy and evaluation at the Merit Systems Protection Board before joining the Partnership for Public Service, agreed. "Some appointees are going to be young and/or inexperienced, and our job is to assist them and help them learn," Palguta said.
   
   
2. Be flexible. Avoid the "Been there, done that and it didn't work" attitude, veteran career executives advised. "You have to understand that a new team may not see things the same way, and that they have the right to set policy and change direction. You have to be prepared for the possibilities," Palguta said.
   
   
3. Show enthusiasm and support for the new team. "Eager and enthusiastic career executives get the highest marks from appointees," said Kleeman. Palguta reminded career civil servants to remember their role. "Our goal is to implement laws and policy, not make it," Palguta said. When it comes to supporting the new administration's policies, "you've got to fish or cut bait," he said. In other words, if you cannot support the new team's agenda, it might be time to leave the agency.
   
   
4. Get the career team ready. Dennis Fischer, who spent 30 years in government before retiring in 2000 as head of the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service. Fischer said his experience with transitions taught him that it is important for career executives to form strong teams that work effectively together before the new administration is in place, so they can be more helpful to appointees.
   
   
5. Be positive. Veteran career officials advise their colleagues to view transitions as a chance to start over and make a positive impression. "Look at the transition as an opportunity, not a threat. This is not the time to hunker down and take a low profile," said Palguta. "There are new players, new energy and a clean slate." Fischer was more philosophical. "Change comes along; you have to accept it and move forward with it," he said.
   
   
6. Listen. "It is really important to listen first and get a sense of what appointees' thoughts are, and be ready to respond in ways you can be of use in helping them achieve their goals," Palguta emphasized. "Focus on what the new leadership thinks is important because that is what they have been appointed to do," said June Huber, then-director of the General Services Administration's transition support office.
   
   
7. Speak English. Newcomers are usually frustrated by bureaucratic jargon and acronyms that mean nothing to them. "The best material is clear, short, and addresses the issues succinctly," said Huber.