By Brittany R. Ballenstedt bballenstedt@govexec.com
June 26, 2007
Investing in training for first-line supervisors at federal agencies will significantly improve employee performance and help agencies meet growing challenges, a public administration specialist said Tuesday.
James Thompson, an associate professor of public administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago, said front-line supervisors have a bigger influence on employees' day-to-day performance than managers at other levels, and provide the most relevant leadership.
"Front-line supervisors are in relatively neglected strata in the management hierarchy," he said at an event sponsored by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. "Federal employees deserve to have good leaders. . . . The federal government can and should do more to train supervisors as leaders."
Thompson's assertions are reflected in a new report outlining training programs at six agencies that he believes could serve as examples for the rest of government -- the CIA, Defense Logistics Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Government Accountability Office, IRS and National Security Agency.
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