The Maxwell School of Public Affairs and CitizenshipThe Maxwell School of Public Affairs and CitizenshipSyracuse UniversitySyracuse University

Executive Leadership Seminar:Executive Leadership Seminar:Managing In The Arena of Managing In The Arena of

Government OversightGovernment Oversight

June 24, 2009

Executive Leadership SeminarExecutive Leadership Seminar

Lesson OneLesson One – The Face in the Mirror – The Face in the Mirror

Lesson TwoLesson Two – They Might Be Giants – They Might Be Giants

Lesson ThreeLesson Three – The Arena – The Arena

Lesson FourLesson Four – Into the Woods – Into the Woods

Lesson One – Lesson One – The Face in the MirrorThe Face in the Mirror

Arena of Government OversightArena of Government Oversight

Value and Risks of Professional Value and Risks of Professional RelationshipsRelationships

The Politics of Being ApoliticalThe Politics of Being Apolitical

Balancing Internal Success with Balancing Internal Success with External MisfortuneExternal Misfortune

Avoiding the Bunker MentalityAvoiding the Bunker Mentality

Lesson Two – Lesson Two – They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants

• CongressCongressLegislate for DepartmentLegislate for Department

Oversight Programs and ActivitiesOversight Programs and Activities

Appropriate FundingAppropriate Funding

Know the Political Landscape -- Not Know the Political Landscape -- Not MonolithicMonolithic

Distinguish Congressional Staff vs. Distinguish Congressional Staff vs. Member InterestsMember Interests

Lesson Two – Lesson Two – They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants

DepartmentDepartmentUnder/Assistant Secretary for ManagementUnder/Assistant Secretary for Management

Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operating Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operating OfficerOfficer

General CounselGeneral Counsel

Program Assistant SecretariesProgram Assistant Secretaries

EmployeesEmployees

UnionsUnions

Management GroupsManagement Groups

Lesson Three – The ArenaLesson Three – The Arena

The White HouseThe White HouseWH Personnel and CounselWH Personnel and Counsel

National Security CouncilNational Security Council

OMB: Consumer and ProviderOMB: Consumer and Provider

CIGIECIGIE

Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice

Office of Special CounselOffice of Special Counsel

Lesson Three – The ArenaLesson Three – The Arena

GAOGAOThe Investigative Arm of CongressThe Investigative Arm of Congress

OIGOIGThe Troika with Dual Reporting ResponsibilitiesThe Troika with Dual Reporting Responsibilities

Productive AlliancesProductive AlliancesHorizontal and Tactical Reporting LinesHorizontal and Tactical Reporting Lines

Management Challenges and High RiskManagement Challenges and High Risk

Lesson Three – The ArenaLesson Three – The Arena The MediaThe Media

Gives Your Issues LegsGives Your Issues Legs

Love Them or ….Love Them or ….

Off-The-Record Is Risky BusinessOff-The-Record Is Risky Business

Remember Who You Are RepresentingRemember Who You Are Representing

Do Return Reporters’ Calls – PromptlyDo Return Reporters’ Calls – Promptly““In dealing with the press, do yourself a favor and stick to one of three responses:In dealing with the press, do yourself a favor and stick to one of three responses:

• I know and I can tell you I know and I can tell you

• I know and I can’t tell youI know and I can’t tell you

• I don’t knowI don’t know --- Dan Rather--- Dan Rather

Lesson Four – Into the WoodsLesson Four – Into the Woods Final Thoughts Final Thoughts

The Oversight Arena is Crowded- Know The Oversight Arena is Crowded- Know the Landscapethe Landscape

Institutions are Not MonolithicInstitutions are Not Monolithic

Create Coalitions & Invest in Stakeholder Create Coalitions & Invest in Stakeholder RelationshipsRelationships

Create and Sustain Your NetworkCreate and Sustain Your Network

Truth = ReliabilityTruth = Reliability

““The arc of the universe is long, but it bends in the direction of justice”The arc of the universe is long, but it bends in the direction of justice”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

The Maxwell School of Public Affairs and CitizenshipThe Maxwell School of Public Affairs and CitizenshipSyracuse UniversitySyracuse University

Executive Leadership Seminar:Executive Leadership Seminar:Managing Your ArenaManaging Your Arena

June 24, 2009