Herocrats use their superpowers of courage, creativity and connection to adapt their organizations to serve the public better.
But not everyone who works in government is there to change the world. Some people started out there and then lost their OOMPH along the way. Others have other motivations for public service, like the solid pay and benefits.
Below, I’ve compiled a list that describes different types of “Fearocrats,” or people in public service who aren’t yet leading with courage, connection and creativity.
This isn’t about judging our co-workers; it’s about how we can more effectively work together toward shared goals. If we understand our co-workers values and motivations, we can find common ground to get things done together.
And in reality, everyone is complex. I believe that most people are doing the best they can with what they got. There is no purity test for being a Herocrat versus a Fearocrat. The point is that we all can use Herocrats Mindsets and Moves to activate our superpowers. (See the other blog posts for examples).
So here are some of the Fearocrats that I’ve encountered:
“If Only”
They are sympathetic to the cause, If Only…
They have many reasons for not acting, many valid. But what their excuses have in common are a lack of research, prodding and exploration. Barriers are taken as fact and passed down as organizational lore.
If only…
•We had the authority to do it
•The other governmental agency would just cooperate with us
•The elected officials would support it
“Doing-my-job-bob“
This Fearocrat can’t be bothered to exert additional energy or brainwaves beyond what is prescribed in their job description, and they read it narrowly.
“That’s not my job.”
“Good Ole Boy”
This Fearocrat has the power and they know it. They think of themselves as “good guys” and would like to help, as long as it doesn’t threaten their power or position.
“I’d like to help you but I would get into trouble with ______”
“Smarty pants”
They’ve seen the research, and they already know the right answer. They are more interested in looking smart and important than getting anything done.
“Well, actually…”
“the purist”
This Fearocrat is going to hold out for the ideal solution. They have never heard the saying “perfect is the enemy of the good,” or they just disagree with it.
“It’s not worth doing unless we ______”
“The wearycrat”
This person would like to support what you’re doing, they’re just tired and worn down. They need a break.
“We tried that 10 years ago and it failed. (SIGH)”
“The arch enemy”
This type of Fearocrat is extremely rare, but you will know when you encounter them. They are highly motivated against the cause. They will work against you in visible --or sometimes sneaky – ways.
“Sure, I’ll work with you on that!”
[cue lies, backstabbing, sabotage]
Those are some of the types of Fearocrats I’ve encountered in my career. Who did I miss?
Also:
Which ones do you most commonly encounter?
How have you successfully worked together with them?
How can we find common ground to get things done?