U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao

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As Delivered

Remarks to
Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit
Washington, D.C.
May 13, 2003

Thank you, Eun [Yang, General Assignment Reporter, WRC-TV, Washington, D.C.].

Welcome you to the second annual Asian Pacific American Federal Career Advancement Summit. I hope you are having a great time!

As some of you know, the Department of Labor initiated this Summit last year and partnered with the Office of Personnel Management. Our goal is to help Asian Pacific Americans acquire the skills they need to advance within the federal government.

And what better time to hold this summit than in May, which is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

For the first time in history, there are two Asian Pacific Americans in the Cabinet. President George W. Bush has appointed 152 Asian Pacific Americans to non-career, policy-making positions—the highest of any administration in our country’s history.

I am pleased that several of this Administration’s appointees are with us today including Ambassador Sichan Siv, U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council and his wife, Martha; Sam Mok, the first Asian American CFO at the Department of Labor, and his wife Nancy; Shinea Chun, the first Asian American to head the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau; Angie Tang, the Labor Department’s regional representative in New York; and Mina Nguyen, the Labor Department’s Director of Public Liaison who worked so hard to put this conference together.

From the White House we are delighted to have Noel Francisco and Jenny Brosnahan, Special Assistants to the President and Associate White House Counsels; Cesar Conda, Assistant to the Vice President for Domestic Policy; Susan Ralston from the Senior Advisor Karl Rove’s Office and Patrick Bumatay from the Counselor’s office. I also see John Duong and Amata Coleman Radewagen from the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders. And Susan Au Allen, a member of the President’s 21st Century Advisory Council, is also with us today.

They are just a few of the many talented Asian Pacific Americans, both career and non-career, serving in this Government.

As an Asian American immigrant, I care deeply about helping other Asian Americans and all Americans advance within our mainstream society. I know from my own experience that it’s not always easy. Hopefully, this summit will provide some of the tools and knowledge to help you in your career advancement.

Today, if I may, I’d like to share some practical, down-to-earth pointers based on my own experience of having worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

If you were brought up like I was, the emphasis in your household was on getting a good education and hard work. There is no question that a good educational foundation can give a person a helpful start. And there is no doubt that hard work is a given. I’ve never known a successful person who didn’t work hard.

But there are several other traits and skill-sets that are as important—the so-called “soft skills,” and hopefully you will learn more about some of them today.

One of the most important “soft skills” is the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Learning how to communicate clearly and persuasively will be a valuable investment in yourself. Our workforce today is so diverse. We cannot assume that everyone thinks like we do. Clear communication is the glue that binds us together, that allows us to work smoothly with one another. No matter how technically accomplished a person is, if that person cannot communicate effectively, he or she cannot be an effective manager and his or her advancement opportunities will be limited.

By communicating effectively, I mean much more than writing a good memo. Often, senior managers are expected to be spokesmen for their organizations. So, it’s important to develop oral presentation skills. That’s why we have invited a top professional speech coach here today to give some tips on public speaking.

While it’s important to be polite and gracious, it’s also important in this society to learn to speak up. I don’t know about you, but I grew up in an environment where people deferred to their elders and waited for their turn to speak. So when I first entered the American workplace I found it rather confrontational. People interrupted each other all the time. They challenged each other, contradicted each other. The give and take was loud and more informal than I was brought up with and it took me a while to adjust. But eventually I realized that the hallmark of democracy and the American way is to present opposing points of view in a socially acceptable way. Effective communications is key to being a successful manager.

Having strong interpersonal skills is another important “soft skill.”

We all need learn to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Always ask for things you need politely—resist the practice to order people around. I’ve found it helpful to always say “please” and “thank you.” These phrases go a long way towards establishing good will between co-workers. And a simple gesture as smiling can build goodwill and cooperation.

Having strong interpersonal skills and learning how to develop effective interpersonal relationships are important. In America, while individualism is celebrated, teamwork is emphasized as well. Learning how to work with others and persuade others to follow a particular course of action is an important skill. Workplaces nowadays talk all the time about teamwork. How to get along with others to achieve a common goal. It involves effective and clear communications, compromise, negotiations, and flexibility.

As a manager of a team, you have to learn to delegate. This can be difficult. The temptation is to do everything yourself. But a manager’s chief responsibility is to communicate guidance and the goals clearly, build trust, support team members in what they do, provide the tools they need, and not micromanage.

As we speak of developing interpersonal skills, we also have to talk about the need to understand the mainstream culture. And, the Asian culture and the mainstream cultures are different. Let me just give a small example: When I was head of the United Way of America, I often had to participate in skits and loud rallies, wear funny costumes, do silly things. I felt awkward and out of place at first. But I learned that these exercises were important to team building and I learned to take them in stride with a sense of humor. These grace notes are important to building a sense of camaraderie.

Finally, I’d like to say a few words about the most important management skill of all, which is leadership. Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate your fellow employees. It’s hard. It takes practice. That’s what you’re doing now.

It takes good communication skills: listening and speaking. And it takes an attitude of service to those you lead. Good leaders are brave, courageous, servant leaders.

I’ve just given you a lot of “do’s” and “don’ts” to remember. But here’s one more thing I have found helpful: don’t forget to enjoy what you’re doing. In Asia, we talk about survival. But in America, people talk about enjoyment, happiness. It’s part of the Declaration of Independence. And it’s a big part of being an American. People here want to enjoy their work—that’s why the interpersonal “soft skills” are so important in the workplace.

Today I’ve tried to share with you some pointers based on what I’ve learned throughout my career. But I don’t have all the answers—I’m still evolving as a leader. Every day is a learning experience for me. And like everyone else, one thing we can count on in our careers is that we will all make mistakes. But that’s OK. America is a forgiving society and the land of second chances. Very few mistakes in life are fatal. That’s one of the truly wonderful things about this country.

The key is to be enthusiastic and positive. In America, there is no shame in trying and failing. American culture values and rewards persistence.

The last message I want to leave with you today is to cherish our heritage as you try to advance in mainstream America and to believe that there are abundant opportunities in this country. It’s up to each of us to prepare ourselves to be able to take advantage of these opportunities. The comforting fact is there are lots of resources that can offer assistance if you need help. I hope this conference will give you some ideas of these resources. I hope you will use the time you are at this conference to network, to learn new skills and to expand your horizons, and I hope you will find the modules we’ve selected for you today helpful in thinking about your own career development.

Today, I’d like to announce another career development tool that I hope you will find useful. Today, I am launching a new mentorship program for career government employees at the Department of Labor. This program will pair GS/11-13 career employees with mentors at the GS-13 and above level. Let’s take a look at a video success story about this mentoring program, which we piloted at the Department during the past year.

[Video Clip Shown]

One of the reasons we developed this program is to help those who are new to American mainstream culture to adapt and find their way. Please don’t be afraid to sign up—these programs can be very valuable. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to discontinue. I encourage all of you to learn about the mentoring opportunities in your Department and to take advantage of them.

In closing, let me offer one more insight into the philosophy of success. It’s true that—to some extent—a lot of advancement depends upon luck. We always wish for luck. But we can help luck by positioning ourselves to be ready when opportunity comes so we can grasp it. There’s nothing like persistence; so never give up.

How many of you saw the film “Cast Away” with Tom Hanks? Tom Hank’s character is marooned on a deserted island for four and a half years. He’s desperate to escape because he thinks he’s doomed to die on the island, alone. But he never gives up. One day, while sitting on the beach watching the tide go in and out, he notices that the tide brings in a steel door panel. He uses the panel to build a raft that carries him out to sea, where a freighter spots him and picks him up. He makes it back to civilization.

I love that story because it illustrates that the possibilities in life are ever changing and always interesting. You never know what the tide is going to bring in. So it’s a lesson for all of us to stay engaged. Don’t give up. You never know what the next day and the next tide will bring!

Have a productive and rewarding conference. God bless you and God bless America.

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