The Bureaucratic Entrepreneur: How to Be Effective in Any Unruly Organization

Richard Haas's small book (Amazon lists it incorrectly as 260 pages -- the 1999 paperback, including bibliography, is only 198 pages) packs a tremendous punch. It is a one-of-a-kind, pragmatic primer with but one mission -- to increase the effectiveness of an individual who finds himself working in a large and uncoordinated organization, the kind of outfit where persuasion is paramount but the mission is often unclear.The author uses a metaphor, a compass, to organize each section. The points of the compass are used to describe how the indiviudal should interact with those around him: north = bosses, south = subordinates, east = colleagues, and west = outsiders (media, Congress, and others).The metaphor of a compass may be somewhat cliche, but it is only framework onto which is hung a surprising amount of very sage advice. Short stories are used as to illustrate each piece of advice given, from bureaucrats and public figures, both famous and obscure. The advice in this book covers a shotgun blast of topics: how to be an inspiring leader; negotiation tactics; chairing an effective meeting; surviving transitions and reorganizations; how to write a persuasive memo; etc.I've worked in DC for the federal government for over a decade, and this book is the first one I turn to for advice and reminders of both what to do and what NOT to do, every working day. I highly recommend it for any individual who works in a bureaucratic organization.

I was fascinated to learn that Richard Haass had written a guide to being an effective bureaucrat - which is not necessarily the same as being a good bureaucrat. This elegant book is full of useful insights for an aspiring official, not least those who want to stretch the boundaries of the possible and make government organizations deliver. And although it's the book isn't recently published, the advice inside remains pertinent. For anyone who works in large, public organizations the challenge is how to have an impact. Being more than a cog, but not being so wild-eyed as to have no meaningful influence. Being less status-conscious and more outcome-focused. Anyone considering (or already pursuing) a career in this space should at least glance through this.

Good product, as pictured, delivered on time.

Good read.

The federal government is a unique place to work. Most people agree that it is more difficult to fire subordinates there than in the private sector and, due to the government's arcane hiring process, it is often a challenge to put the right person in the right job. Add to this mix Congressional oversight, the occasional media spotlight, the lack of a bottom line, and the big-picture question (not asked often enough) "what are we doing and why are we doing it," and you have an environment foreign to many private sector employees.Enter Richard Haass's book the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur, an update of his 1993 primer the Power to Persuade. Haass has held a number of positions in previous government administrations, including at the NSC and the Defense and State Departments. His book is packed with words of wisdom for the harried bureaucrat who at the end of the day may wonder just what he accomplished. Although Haass's advice appears machiavellian (he argues that Machiavelli is often misunderstood) and the author does not have a firm grasp on whether his audience is the entry-level employee or the senior-level political appointee, it is worth putting up with these drawbacks for the original focus and insight on managing and leading in the public sector. The bibliography alone is reason enough to buy the book.Low-level or high, every public-sector employee should read the Bureaucratic Entrepreneur before starting his or her new government job. They should then re-read it every few years to ensure that they are on track and using the tools Haass lays out to be effective in one of the most "unruly" organizations around.