Lack of preparation of managers is among the risks to good federal personnel management, according to a report summarizing conclusions of a recent panel discussion of experts held by the National Academy of Public Administration.
The panel looked what it called the tenured workforce that is “vital to the efficiency and effectiveness of ongoing federal operations.” Accounting for about a third of all federal workers, some of them supervisors, they have between 10 and 24 years of service and deep experience in how to get things done, it said.
The report cited issues such as the difficulty in recruiting and retaining those with certain skills such as cybersecurity and IT that not only are in high demand in the private sector but also are more subject to turnover because the skills more readily translate outside the government than do some federal occupations.
It says another risk is that of the “reluctant manager” who has neither the preparation nor the skills needed to deal with such issues.
“Moving into the ranks of management is a natural career progression, leading to higher remuneration and grade levels. For many in the tenured workforce, management may not be an aspiration or a core competency. However, to advance in their careers and/or by virtue of their experience and knowledge, these seasoned employees are often placed in management positions for which they are not prepared,” it said.
“The likely outcome is that the individuals supervised or managed by the tenured workforce employee may not be adequately coached and developed; similarly the tenured workforce employee’s development is also stifled and their engagement potentially diminished as they are unable to advance in the direction that is truly suited to their capabilities and preferences. Thus, this ‘mismatch’ not only subjects the agency to attrition risk, but also places workforce development and succession planning efforts at risk.”