Cultivating a Good Government Culture

“Hopefully, the government can save itself from itself, before it’s too late.” – Jason Briefel, Director of Government and Public Affairs at Shaw, Bransford, and Roth, P.C.

In the latest edition of Management Minutes With Mika, Mika Cross, Workplace Transformation Strategist, sat down with Briefel to elaborate on this quote and to get his suggestions for creating a good government culture.

Here are a few quick takeaways:

• When it comes to his often-touted quote, Briefel believes that we need to recognize that the systems, laws and rules that are currently in place have piled up and can now hold people back from bringing their best to the table. “Even if that wasn’t the original intent, it has shaped our culture in a way that means we don’t discuss problems until they hit the pages of the Washington Post.” He added that leaders must “push to a better place because government has a public relations problem.”
• The current culture of government is causing management to burn out quickly, and Briefel encouraged everyone to reach out when you need help, because “there are a lot of awesome organizations and people that can help, even in your own agency.” He said that if we prioritize making connections, “we can raise our boats together.”
• As for advice that he would give new hires, Briefel said he would tell them that they should “find a purpose and a tribe that can help encourage and support you.”

To hear more of Briefel’s advice, check out the full video and be sure to explore our other Management Minutes With Mika videos for more leadership advice.