The Foreign Service Journal, May 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2015 27 service helps deliver improved security outcomes; ■ Regular communication with offices at Embassy Islamabad (the origin of most of our visitors) about conditions and pro- cedures in Karachi, coupled with support from the front office; and ■ Consistent messaging from the consul general in town halls and other settings emphasizing the importance of security procedures, and warning that violations would have consequences. v Build Resilience and Common Purpose Despite the difficult operating environment, Karachi enjoyed high morale. As a result, the restrictions imposed by our security procedures, and the impact of inevitable setbacks—lockdowns, trips cancelled after exhaustive preparation, etc.—had a less negative impact. Many factors contributed to this. Some I inherited, including strong local employees, a secure and comfortable compound, and ready access to an airport that made rest-and-recreation trips and weekend getaways convenient. But I also made fostering resil- ience in my team a priority every day, in the following ways: ■ Communication. Everyone in Consulate Karachi—Ameri- can or Pakistani, permanent or temporary staff—knew what our mission was and the conditions under which we were operating. Town halls, all-hands emails, regular Emergency Action Com- mittee meetings and lots of management-by-walking-around made sure of this. ■ Work-life balance. I not only encouraged all American staff to take their R&Rs and any other leave they needed, but strove to model the behavior I expected of others by limiting work on the weekend. I also partnered with the local employee association, the Community Liaison Office and (especially when we didn’t have a CLO) a committee of volunteers to plan and sponsor social events: happy hours, cricket matches, holiday baskets for our 600-person local staff and parties for their families, cooking classes, trivia nights, etc. Paying for these sorts of morale-builders often required me to go out of pocket, but it was well worth that personal investment to strengthen Team Karachi’s resilience. Doing our job requires getting out into the city and province to report on developments and trends, conduct oversight, engage the media and students, and promote American business. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/CONSULATE GENERAL KARACHI Consul General Michael Dodman opening a USDA- sponsored promotion of American food products at a Karachi supermarket, July 2014.