If you work in a chaotic organisation you need to read this book. This book to ‘provides guidance to individuals who find themselves working in unruly organisations’. It is useful for any one working in government, not for profit or for profit.
I only regret that it took me so long to come across such a useful guide. It deserves a Brussels edition.
This is ‘how to manual’ written by a government insider, who has operated at the highest level. Condi Rice reviewed the manuscript.
In between his twenty years in government – from the diplomat to adviser to the late George Bush, he taught at the
John F.Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He could not find the book he wanted for his students to show how government really worked, so he wrote the book himself.
If you read the book, you’ll become more effective. Over seven chapters, Haas provides excellent advice on deciding and implementing an agenda, dealing with your boss, colleagues and staff. His sections on writing memos, writing speeches, and working with the media are especially useful.
Throughout, Haass emphasises the importance of the ‘integrity’ of the calling to public service and the high standards that those in government need to follow. He provides you with compass to enable you to become effective in your position.
He concludes with ‘Five Principles’ (pp.179-80) that summarise his book:
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Develop and focus on a narrow agenda
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Look for opportunities to act
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Bring honesty and integrity to all that you do
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Be aware … Be careful with facts, mindful of assumptions, rigorous in your analysis …
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Pay attention to people
“Being effective is that simple – and that complicated”.