The Foreign Service Journal, November 2018

10 NOVEMBER 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LETTERS Everyday Strategy Matt Boland’s article in the September FSJ , “You Have a Strategy: Now What?” is great. I am a strong proponent of the daily practice of strategic planning. In Lomé, I organize the agenda of our country teammeetings by integrated country strategy (ICS) goals; every week we go through each of the four goals, and members share what their sections did that week to advance our objectives. I find that this generates very fruitful talk “across the table” among country teammembers, who are prompted to think in new ways about the issues and how different sections can make a contri- bution to each goal. We’ve come up with some unique and innovative collabora- tions through that process, and we have a country team that works exceptionally well and has high morale as a result. I tell all the officers that I want them to be able to explain to their mothers what we do here and why it’s important. That explanation begins with a thorough understanding and a clear explanation of our strategic goals. I mention our strategic goals in every town hall or large meeting with the staff, and emphasize that every single employee in the mission plays a role in achieving those objec- tives. I tell the Locally Employed staff that they are key messengers (“my ambas- sadors”) on whom I depend to explain the embassy’s objectives to their families, friends and neighbors. Dave Gilmour Ambassador U.S. Embassy Lomé Tradecraft Matt Boland’s article is a valuable contribution to diplomatic tradecraft. I am disheartened that the State Depart- ment has never made a commitment to require that officers develop com- petence in strategic planning. I have witnessed firsthand the costs this failure has wrought on the institution, especially in the past 17 years since 9/11, as we’ve served—in Washington and overseas—alongside agencies who have made this investment. Count on me to do what I can to help advance this initiative. Henry Wooster Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy Paris Worth Reading and Teaching “You Have a Strategy” in the Septem- ber issue is worth reading and teaching. After four years as chief of mission, I strongly believe that a strategy-driven approach—with a common strategy built and understood by all—is vital to success. After three tours on the National Security Council staff, I’m convinced that adopting this approach would make State a stronger interagency player. I sent the article to Marc Ostfield at FSI suggesting they teach it there. Greg Schulte Ambassador, retired U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Vienna Don’t Forget the Sweet Spot My warmest congratulations to the FSJ for the excellent article on strategic planning in your September edition. These recommendations draw from a wealth of experience and represent con- crete methods for improving this effort across the department. It would be great to see this article expanded in the management and lead- ership courses offered at FSI. I hope we can also focus on that sweet spot in strategic plan- ning between long-term objectives and short-term realizable goals that can be measured, acknowledged and built on by every team member. Stephanie Syptak Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy Singapore Helpful and Timely Thank you for drawing my atten- tion to this helpful and timely report on strategic planning. I have shared this with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs leadership, here in D.C. and in the field, and encouraged close consideration of the important recom- mendations. W. Patrick Murphy FSO, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Washington, D.C. A Zero-Sum Game? Much if not most of the obstacle to progress in reforming the State Depart- ment to reflect the world in which it operates is summed up in the article ”The Demise of MED’s Child and Family Program” in the September FSJ . Everything that happens seems to be viewed as a zero-sum game. If you get something, I must give something up; and that must diminish my importance within the department. It was that way before my retirement in 2005, and it looks like nothing has changed in the ensuing years. Harry Chamberlain FSS, retired Spring Hill, Florida