T H O U G HT S ON L EA DE R S HIP
MIKE DEGROSKY
With all the media coverage around the nominations of the incoming Biden administration, I have noticed a resurrection of the expression “personnel is policy” a phrase popularized early in Ronald Reagan’s first presidential term. Despite its bad grammar, this saying is pretty instructive. So, what does it mean? Leaders succeed when people support and execute the leader’s policies, and work to achieve their objectives. Consequently, it is critically important that leaders pay attention to getting the right people in place through good recruiting, hiring, organization, and assignment.
“WHEN A LEADER PAYS CAREFUL ATTENTION TO WHO IS ON THEIR TEAM AND WHAT ROLE THEY PLAY, TO PUTTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE, PERSONNEL BECOME POLICY AND POLICY PROPELS WHAT BOTH THE LEADER AND THE ORGANIZATION ULTIMATELY ACCOMPLISHES.” 6
wildfire
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FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021
Of course, a leader’s latitude to mold their team varies from organization to organization and situation to situation. However, in any organization, the leader has at least some ability to pick the people who will execute their intent. Who the leader chooses to surround themself with drives policy and drives the leadership agenda. Over my career, I have noticed that effective leaders learn early to make sure they assemble a good team and remember that as they rise through their careers. They understand that who they bring in to implement their goals propels what they ultimately accomplish. Bottom line, an effective leader needs people with the right experience, a commitment to executing and advancing the leader’s intent, and the ability to effectively bring others along. When a leader pays careful attention to who is on their team and what role they play, to putting the right people in place, personnel become policy and policy drives what the organization accomplishes. It can be exciting to watch a determined leader put, onto the levers of power and influence, the people they need to advance their agenda. I particularly love to watch a seasoned senior leader put talented and respected up-andcomers in place, mentor them, and then let them blossom into the influential guides of their organization as they execute its objectives. Effective leaders know that they
