How to Get Things Done in a Bureaucracy

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Park Leaders Show episode 345

“Government isn’t changed by policies. Government is changed by people.”

Anyone who has worked in parks long enough has experienced it. You have a good idea, people agree it would improve the visitor experience, and then…nothing happens.

Phil Gaines has spent decades leading within government agencies and now works in higher education and consulting. Having experienced bureaucracy from multiple perspectives, he’s gained a unique appreciation for why large organizations operate the way they do. He’s also learned how leaders can still make meaningful progress within them.

One point Phil made really changed the way I think about bureaucracy. It wasn’t created by accident. Our system of government was intentionally designed to slow decision-making, encourage deliberation, and prevent the concentration of power. That can feel frustrating when you’re trying to move a project forward, but understanding why the system exists helps you work more effectively within it.

Phil shared five practical strategies that can help park leaders navigate those challenges.

Think beyond today’s problems and focus on long-term outcomes.
Learn how your organization actually works, both formally and informally.
Use visuals to communicate ideas because today’s decision makers process information differently than previous generations.
Find a champion who believes in your idea.
Find a way to get your idea in front of someone who can actually make a decision.

That last point resonated with me. Great ideas don’t usually fail because they’re bad ideas. They fail because they never reach the people with the authority to move them forward.

There is a way that leaders can improve the process. Hire talented people, communicate a clear vision, empower employees to contribute, and create a culture where ideas don’t get lost in layers of bureaucracy.

Parks have always been in the forever business. Much of the work we do today was started by leaders decades ago, and many of the projects we begin won’t be fully realized until long after we’re gone. That’s exactly why it’s worth learning how to move good ideas forward.