Flickr user Dave Newman

The Upcoming Presidential Transition: A Guide for Career Managers and Executives

How to navigate the tricky waters ahead.

The political party conventions are over and earlier this week the transition teams for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump moved into office space near the White House. Departmental briefings are underway in preparation for an orderly transfer of power to the 45th president of the United States, who will take office on Jan. 20, 2017.

Both parties are hoping for a smooth change in administrations under the Presidential Transitions Improvement Act of 2015, signed by President Obama in March, and the Pre-Election Presidential Transition Act of 2010. The laws call for the current administration to begin planning for the transfer of power no later than six months prior to the swearing-in of the next president. The General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget play leading roles in coordinating transition briefings and logistics.

With the transition beginning to hit full stride, Government Executive is reprising a four-part guide for career managers and executives originally published in 2008. The guide was assembled by Alan Balutis, a former federal executive with more than 30 years of government experience. He guided three presidential transitions and seven secretarial transitions while serving in a senior leadership role at the Commerce Department. He also got a glimpse from the other side as a member of the Obama-Biden Technology, Innovation and Government Reform Transition Team in 2008-09.

A shortened version of this series won the H. George Frederickson Award for best article from the American Society for Public Administration in 2012. Balutis currently is senior director and distinguished fellow, U.S. public sector, at Cisco Systems.

Preparing for the Transition: A Four-Part Series

Do’s and Dont’s

Top tips for career managers working with the new administration.

Mars and Venus

A former career executive advises current advises current execs on successfully courting political appointees.

Two Schools of Thought

What incoming political appointees are thinking — and what should be on the minds of career executives.

What Appointees Want

Advice from a veteran of government service who served two stints as a political appointee.

Photo: Flickr user Dave Newman

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