DAO In The Life: October 2023
Navigating DAO Waters
By Steve Wright, Deputy County Administrator of Gloucester County
Being a deputy administrator/manager can be a simultaneously enviable and, in certain circumstances, convoluted and frustrating role. It is enviable in the sense that we are one step removed from our elected councils/boards. Hence, while we may frequently interact with them, they typically don’t see us as either the hero, when things go swimmingly, or the operational scapegoat, when things go awry. This leaves us relatively free to, among other vital duties, focus on ways in which we can enhance the culture of the internal organization; all while flying, at least partially, under the scrutinizing radar of politics. In contrast, our role can be convoluted and intermittently frustrating because, for many of us, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge that has allowed us to be successful relationship builders and change agents and, as a result, has led us to this place in our careers. Consequently, while our function is to support the CAO (and most of us truly revel in that role), we can’t help but wonder how we would leverage our background, values, and leadership style differently, even if only on the operational margins. In other words, we can’t help but ponder over what we would do if we were “in that seat”, particularly if exigencies outside of our control suddenly were to thrust us into the spotlight. If ever there comes a time when our recommendations and expertise are not leveraged fully, we may experience frustration, which further heightens our “in that seat visualization” moments.
Nonetheless, it is incumbent upon us to recall (daily, if needed) that we serve a vital function in our organizations. We are, of course, a consulting and supportive force for our CAOs, as mentioned earlier. We are, also, because of our departmental oversight duties, often an effective and positive buffer and mediator in the gap between issues of political acceptability and operational feasibility. For instance, we help the CAO and, by extension, our elective bodies, to make viable connections between resident needs and department capacity. We, also, act as valued sounding boards for both CAO and department head concerns and queries, thereby potentially safeguarding the sanctity and favorable climate of the workplace. So, while we, as unique, viable, and autonomous humans, may not always see our ideal work selves come to fruition, in terms of the degree of impact we can have; we can drift soundly off to sleep each night in the blessed assurance that we are serving a pivotal and necessary function, both within and for our communities and our organizations.