Confessions of a Civil Servant: Lessons in Changing America's Government and Military / Edition 1

by Bob Stone

Overview

Confessions of a Civil Servant is filled with lessons on leading change in government and the military. Bob Stone based the book on thirty years as a revolutionary in government. It comes at a time when the events of 9-11 are sharpening America's demands for government that works at all levels. The book tackles fourteen overarching themes in government, developed through entertaining stories of Stone's own experiences as a civil servant. Among the topics Stone covers are 'tackling a job when you haven't a clue,' 'organizing for the mission,' 'dealing with difficult bosses,' and 'getting past the barriers to change.' This book is a must-read for anyone in, or considering taking, a leadership position in government, the military, or any large organization, public or private.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742527652
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/26/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.07(w) x 9.08(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Bob Stone is a partner with the Public Strategies Group, a small consulting firm that advises governments around the world that seek to provide effective and efficient services to its citizens. During a 30-year career as a civil servant, Stone started a quality revolution at the Pentagon and later formed and led Al Gore's National Performance Review team at the White House.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: On Government Service Chapter 2 Brazen Chariots, Brazen Analysts: Tackling a job when you haven't a clue Chapter 3 A Little Yellow Book: Shrinking regulations Chapter 4 Red Hats, Red Scarves, Red Tails: Organizing for the mission Chapter 5 Searching for Excellence: Turning an organization around Chapter 6 Snakes and Snakebusters: Dealing with difficult bosses Chapter 7 Getting to Reinvention: Seizing the chance of a lifetime Chapter 8 Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Work We Go: Assembling a team for a big new job Chapter 9 It's September 7th, Stupid!: Getting a big job done in a hurry Chapter 10 Setting a Thousand Fires and Fanning the Flames: Encouraging and protecting innovators Chapter 11 The Decline and Fall of a Great Group: Moving from leadership to management Chapter 12 To Compliance and Beyond: Strengthening the regulatory process Chapter 13 Jean Slams the Door: Facing up to unpleasant duties Chapter 14 Junkyard Dogs: Avoiding Inspector generals Chapter 15 Overcoming Success: Getting past the barriers to change Chapter 16 Ten Lessons in Leadership Chapter 17 Ciao, Mommy. That Means Goodbye

Editorial Reviews

Each chapter presents entertaining stories and offers a summary of practical managerial lessons that individual public servants can learn.

Public Administration Review

Why does a chemical engineer embedded in the Pentagon wage guerrilla warfare against bureaucracy? How does he do it? Read this candid, engaging, and funny account to understand—and to join the ranks.

Richard Danzig

This is, simply, the best text ever on 'making it in government.' That is, getting BIG Things Done That Matter. This may also be the best text ever on large-scale organization change. Anywhere.

Tom Peters

Stone's book demonstrates that bureaucracies are not immovable and that with persistence and good humor a public servant can make a real difference to improve our government and our democratic society. Several of my students reconsidered their career paths after reading it.

Catherine Burke

Stone shares interesting and often entertaining anecdotes about his long career in government, during which be became known as the 'Energizer-in-Chief' for his efforts to help the military and civilian agencies run more efficiently. Stone explains how he overcame challenges in his own career and ends each chapter with a section listing several lessons learned.

Govexec.Com - Amelia Gruber

Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service.

The Business Reader

Bob Stone has been there and done that. Yet he came away from 30 years of federal service not as a cynical ex-bureaucrat, but as an idealist, full of ideas for reinventing government, some of which he put into practice in the Clinton-Gore White House, and the rest of which he put into this book.

James Pinkerton

A 'must-read,' hard to put down. The lessons Bob learned can be applied almost anywhere. A refreshing, instructive addition that will be of value to those who simply cannot live with the status quo.

David Luther

Great concepts here for supervisors everywhere—in governments, in the military, and in the business world. Read and heed. You'll be happy you did.

General Bill Creech

Stone shares interesting and often entertaining anecdotes about his long career in government, during which be became known as the 'Energizer-in-Chief' for his efforts to help the military and civilian agencies run more efficiently. Stone explains how he overcame challenges in his own career and ends each chapter with a section listing several lessons learned.--Amelia Gruber "Govexec.Com "

A handy how-to handbook about what managers can do to move the mountain that is the government. Students and scholars alike will find it a provocative guide for transforming theory into results.--Donald F. Kettl, University of Wisconsin, Madison

This is, simply, the best text ever on 'making it in government.' That is, getting BIG Things Done That Matter. This may also be the best text ever on large-scale organization change. Anywhere.--Tom Peters, from the foreword

From the Publisher

Stone shares interesting and often entertaining anecdotes about his long career in government, during which be became known as the 'Energizer-in-Chief' for his efforts to help the military and civilian agencies run more efficiently. Stone explains how he overcame challenges in his own career and ends each chapter with a section listing several lessons learned.
— Amelia Gruber

Govexec.Com

A handy how-to handbook about what managers can do to move the mountain that is the government. Students and scholars alike will find it a provocative guide for transforming theory into results.

Donald F. Kettl

Bob Stone's work in Reinventing Government broke new ground in managing big change. This valuable book captures what Bob learned.

James Champy

For any officer who aspires to senior leadership in the military services one of the things to be learned and mastered is to understand how bureaucracies work and how to unleash the creative power of both the civilian and military workforces you will be called upon to lead. Bob Stone's book is a compelling first-person account of the work that has been done over the last eighteen years. It is an excellent primer. In an era in which transformation is the big buzzword, it is useful to see what has and has not worked in the past. I highly recommend this book to officers, government civilians, and academics who want to expand their understanding of the military and the government.

General Ron Fogleman

Stone's entertaining memoir also offers practical lessons in large-scale organizational change drawn from his 30 years in government service and his tenure as head of Al Gore's Reinvent Government initiative.

Baltimore Daily Record

When I got to the Pentagon and met Bob, I found that this 'nerdy engineer' made great sense and what he was advocating was not heresy but a healthy dose of common sense. I became a fan of his and vowed that I would do everything possible to support his crusade for eliminating dumb regulations. No one I know understands the issues of transforming the military better than he does. If you are a military professional who truly cares about troops, then this book is especially for you.

General Dennis Reimer