Oh, the luxury of hindsight. For the first time this year, fresh-faced fast streamers will be allotted a comparatively world-weary personal talent manager to guide them through the ups and downs of the civil service.
"If you think you know everything, you don't; if you doubt yourself, that's OK but not all the time; if you think you're not good enough, best fasten your seatbelt for your ride to the top – a little humility alongside your assuredness, is an endearing asset," were the pearls that former permanent secretary Terry Moran shared in an email to the Public Leaders Network.
This is your chance to pass on your own pearls. We know our readers on the Public Leaders Network have amassed a wealth of experience on their way to the top and we want to know what advice you would pass on to the new intake.
Change wrought in the upper echelons since reform plans were introduced will directly affect those joining in the lower grades. From seismic change – the dual position of the head of the civil service is said to be under threat – to a natural shift towards a digital-by-default government that will encourage departmental silos to be broken. Civil servants will be required to exhibit business and commercial nous, and fast streamers are expected to be willing chameleons, moving between the public and private sectors seamlessly on placement.
Demonstating fundamental skills such as project management and good organisation and developing a specialism early will be key for any first timer, according to Zoe Gruhn, director of leadership development at the Institute for Government. The best will be "able to communicate a vision, capable of making decisions under pressure and understand the importance of ethical behaviour", she said.
"Yes, it's competitive. But if you are fast stream material you will see that as a challenge, not a deterrent," said Gillian Smith, head of fast stream. "We wanted to up the ante to make sure the leadership pipeline was growing with the speed it needed to and with a different skills set – commercial and digital skills, change and project management," she said.
Our live chat on Friday 06 September from 12-2pm will discuss how to make it in the new look civil service. Please email kathryn.dobinson@theguardian.com if you would like to be considered for the expert panel.
Expert panel
Patrick Brown is head of civil service fast stream talent operations.
Wendy Bradley is a former HMRC civil servant and PhD research student at Sheffield University.
Antony Carpen is former member of the civil service and blogger on policy-making, public administration and social media at A Dragon's Best Friend.
Rachael Crook is a communications business manager at Department for Communities and Local Government
Roy Johnson is manager of the future leaders programme at the Whitehall and Industry Group. He also runs an 'organisational raid' graduate programme. Roy was previously a technical specialist at IBM and recruited for the graduate development programme.
Andy Ormerod-Cloke is national fire policy advisor and fast stream forum rep for Department for Communities and Local Government
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