Quiet Heroes: The Untold Stories of U.S. Public Servants at Work | Cameron Kober
Jan 28, 2025
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Cameron Kober, a Senior Manager at the Partnership for Public Service and former middle school teacher, discusses the often-overlooked impact of federal employees. He highlights how mission-driven work enhances engagement, despite challenges like leadership turnover and political transitions. Kober underscores the significance of initiatives like the Best Places to Work rankings to foster better workplace cultures. He also shares insights on building trust, recognizing public service contributions, and the essential role of effective leadership in government.
Engaged federal employees, driven by a strong connection to their mission, significantly enhance organizational performance and public service outcomes.
The Partnership for Public Service plays a crucial role in transforming federal workplaces by promoting better leadership, culture, and employee engagement initiatives.
Deep dives
The Connection Between Employee Engagement and Organizational Performance
Employee engagement serves as a vital metric of organizational performance within federal agencies. Engaged employees are not just happier; they are more effective in accomplishing their missions and serving the American public. Organizations that prioritize the well-being and support of their employees tend to achieve better outcomes and missions. The focus here emphasizes that happy employees contribute significantly to the overall success of governmental objectives.
The Role of the Partnership for Public Service
The Partnership for Public Service is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the federal workforce by helping agencies recruit talent and enhance workplace culture. Established in response to events such as September 11, 2001, it emphasizes the importance of attracting new and diverse talent to strengthen civil service amid an aging workforce. Its initiatives include the 'Best Places to Work in the Federal Government' rankings, which provide actionable insights for agencies to enhance employee engagement and leadership quality. Through its efforts, the Partnership aims to portray the federal government as a viable career option for young professionals seeking meaningful work.
Unique Opportunities for Impact in Federal Work
Working for the federal government offers a diverse array of opportunities that can lead to significant societal impact. Employees in various agencies work on missions ranging from environmental protection to public health and even space exploration. For example, employees at NASA contribute to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, while those at the CDC tackle public health crises. The variety of roles and the sense of purpose attached to these jobs attract many individuals motivated by the desire to make a difference.
Challenges and Misconceptions of Federal Employment
Despite the meaningful work federal employees do, misconceptions about bureaucracy and pay can deter potential applicants. Studies show that motivation for employees often stems more from their connection to their agency’s mission and the quality of their leadership than from compensation. Furthermore, transitioning leadership can create instability, yet the resilient federal workforce adapts and continues to focus on their crucial tasks. Addressing these misconceptions and showcasing the real impacts of federal service is essential to attracting and retaining dedicated employees.
For many people, the mention of government work conjures images of endless red tape and bureaucracy. In reality, though, federal employees are doing life-changing work every day. They fight hurricanes, advance cutting-edge research, protect children, and manage millions of acres of public lands. But with leadership turnover, political transitions, and cultural challenges, the system often struggles to attract and retain the talent it needs. Cameron Kober is working to change that.
Cameron Kober is the Director of Employee Engagement and Performance at the Partnership for Public Service where he oversees the Partnership's employee engagement portfolio. This work includes holding leadership accountable to improve organizational culture through the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings, the most comprehensive rating of employee engagement in the federal government. Additionally, his team provides direct services to federal agencies to identify and improve engagement through quantitative and qualitative data analysis, action planning and consulting support. Previously, Cameron developed a passion for public service as a middle school teacher in Central Florida.
In this episode, Dart and Cameron discuss: - What motivates federal employees to serve - How mission-driven work boosts engagement - The challenge of leadership turnover in government - Adapting to rapid political transitions - Improving workplaces through Best Places to Work rankings - Building trust and transparency in government - Leadership lessons from public service - And other topics…
Work with Dart: Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.
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