Transforming a Federal Agency

Chapter 7Barriers to Success

Near the end of 100 days, I had a clear understanding of the state of affairs and everybody's thoughts into the issues and suggestions for improvement (and there were plenty!). Some of the suggestions made sense to me…and some didn't. But I was forming a clearer vision of the framework needed to prepare a path toward success.

I knew what needed to be done. However, before we launched, I had to assess the barriers to success. What can derail progress? This was important to understand to build out a transformation plan. There are three ways to avoid a barrier: work around it, work through it, or eliminate it. Think about a barrier in the roadway. You can drive around the road barrier using another path, you can navigate the barrier by driving through the construction work, or you can wait until the road is complete, then proceed (in essence waiting for the barrier to be eliminated).

Working “around a barrier” is tricky and not efficient, but sometimes necessary. It means keep working and building the transformation process while the barrier still exists. Once you get to the other side, you have to go back and fix the barrier and get everyone on board. This usually happens when not all parties are aligned and the resisters are setting obstacles. Eventually, the hope is that all parties will jump on board and provide the support you need. But the efforts, and costs, can be duplicative.

Working “through a barrier” is more efficient. These barriers are ...