LeBron James is considered to be one of the best professional basketball players in the world. His team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, are one of the favorites to win the playoffs, in large part because of him. This weekend, he earned his second consecutive NBA most valuable player award. No wonder Cleveland fans live in almostRead… Read more »
Did you recently take a new position that requires you to have a more supervisory role? This past week I had the good fortune of spending time with several government leaders in our Center for Government Leadership training programs who are facing that very challenge. These Q&A’s came from from than 70 federal supervisors fromRead… Read more »
In this week’s interview I speak with Nicole Nelson-Jean, who has worked for more than 14 years with the Department of Energy on nuclear arms control, nonproliferation and national security issues. Nicole discusses some of her complex roles such as securing Russian nuclear materials in Siberia, as well as how she balances those responsibilities withRead… Read more »
In today’s column I address the issue of declining public trust in government – and how building up that trust begins in your home agency. As a Toyota owner, I was disappointed when the company failed to recall its vehicles after large numbers of driver complaints about sticky gas pedals. However, I was not surprisedRead… Read more »
My “deadwood” column on Monday about removing poor performers from their government jobs received lots of feedback and comments, with readers offering their own advice — and frustrations — on the topic. Some readers wrote that government leaders do not deal with poor performers in part because the system is too hard to navigate. IRead… Read more »
In today’s column I speak with Scott Gould, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs about issues ranging from how to set priorities to how to surface ideas and issues from the front lines. Q: Given all your responsibilities, how do you prioritize your time? A: The secretary, chief of staff and I all share a commonRead… Read more »
In today’s column I look at the myths associated with removing poor performers in government and what practical steps managers can take. Even if you’re not a fan, you’re probably familiar with the Discovery Channel’s MythBusters, a series that uses science and special-effects to separate fact from fiction. The government needs its own version ofRead… Read more »
Today I answer some of my readers questions, including how to ‘manage up’ without ‘kissing up’. Q: How do you “manage up” without being a “yes-man” or a sycophant? Seems like a fine line to walk. A: It is easy to confuse managing up with “kissing up,” but I can assure you that the twoRead… Read more »
In today’s column, I speak with Margot Rogers, chief of staff for Education Secretary Arne Duncan, on her childhood inspiration. Q: What experience was critical to becoming the leader you are today? A: I attended schools where I was in the distinct racial minority in a small town in the rural South. My family madeRead… Read more »
Despite the presence of outstanding leaders throughout our federal government, the bad ones have a disproportionate impact on government performance. Michael Scott may be television’s version of a bad boss on NBC’s The Office, but from what I hear, there are lots of leaders with similar failings roaming agency hallways. It may be funny toRead… Read more »