by Ron Wallace
President UPS International (Ret.)
Chair of Thirty Boards around the World
Author William F. O’Connor III says it the way it is. He offers deep insights that will change the way people think about their role in public service.
O’Connor reflects on his humble beginnings and the lessons he learned while advancing through the ranks in a variety of executive-level assignments. His approach to transformational leadership is focused on people. He suggests many different ways that cause leaders to succeed, but none more important than a strong focus on appreciation and respect regardless of their position.
On the other side, he doesn’t hesitate to call BS when processes, procedures, and policies simply don’t work. In fact, he hits the “one way fits all, it’s always been done that way” bureaucracy right between the eyes.
His success was caused by his passion for people and doing things right. He explains how he threw out the obstacles so evident in many government offices by inspiring people to be the best they can be. As he points out, efficiency matters.
His vast experience in the public sector caused him to shatter the status quo with what he often refers to as transformational leadership. O’Connor offers a road map for those willing to do the hard work and who aspire to get ahead. He wants people to be rewarded for their results, not just time in grade.
Who the heck takes on government bureaucracy? O’Connor does and pulls no punches in doing so. He gets up close and personal with leaders who have no clue on how to lead. He is not satisfied with executives who just turn the crank from day to day, producing the same old mediocre results.
He was not an office dweller. He practices and preaches a “hands-on” approach and never hesitated to get in the trenches with his people. In fact, it was a big part of his daily routine.
This book has many nuggets of wisdom as he talks about lessons learned from countless successful leaders with whom he worked. He goes into great detail on what they did that made them successful. He also talks about ineffective leaders and what they did wrong that he encountered along his long journey.
Out of the Clay is not a textbook based on research. The author simply shares his experiences to help others see a better way to perform their work. He states, “Vision is needed before transformation can be accomplished, and creating and communicating such a vision is what transformational leaders do.”
This book is a must-read for anyone in, or aspiring to, a position of leadership in the public sector.