Posts By Megan Pleasant

Lit match with fire

How to Handle Fire Drills

Someone else’s emergency is not necessarily your emergency. However, as supervisors, your team’s fire drills actually are your problem, and you have to stay calm when the heat is on. So, how can you possibly manage everything that comes across your desk in a productive, organized way? By understanding the dynamics of crisis management andRead… Read more »

Illustrated person giving 5-star review.

Get Better Public Input During Policymaking

How can we ensure that the voices of the public truly shape the policies that govern their lives? Engaging the public effectively in policymaking and planning is crucial for creating inclusive and representative policies. Fortunately, emerging digital tools enable agencies to reach a broader audience as well as gain more feedback and public engagement. DuringRead… Read more »

Online Training Opportunities

Jump on June’s Online Training Opportunities  

From securing data to handling workplace fire drills, there’s a lot to learn in June.  We’re offering free professional development throughout the month, with government and industry experts offering their insights to help empower you in your career.  Check out the sessions below, and be sure to register, even if you aren’t able to makeRead… Read more »

Workers standing in front of a large clock

New Approaches for Time Management

We’ve never been more distracted. Incessant notifications, emails, calls, pings, deadlines, meetings, and competing priorities make staying focused nearly impossible. Yet, as a supervisor, it’s crucial to manage these distractions while meeting team objectives. The key is to master time management. Much like our learning styles, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing our workloadsRead… Read more »

Chatbot

What You Need to Know About Bots and CX

Chatbots have grown in popularity for good reason: They’re friendly, helpful, and make information readily available. The benefits are arguably even more significant in government applications. They’ve become a reliable tool for delivering constituent services while saving agencies time and resources. In a recent CX Community of Practice, What You Need to Know About BotsRead… Read more »

How to Use Data, Training to Maximize AI

Data Is the Heart of AI

In the public sector, challenges persist with data sourcing, sharing, training and determining the best ways to use AI. As a result, government agencies continue to tread cautiously while still establishing use cases. The Office of Naval Research is no exception, and Director and Chief Analytics Officer James Valverde Jr. acknowledged it’s impossible to talkRead… Read more »

Online Training in May

May Online Training Opportunities

May we interest you in some great online training topics this month?   From implementing chatbots to conquering time management, there’s a lot of free professional development opportunities to empower you as a public servant, including the NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit.  Check out the available sessions below, and don’t forget to register even if youRead… Read more »

Animated newspaper with headline that states, "More High-Profile Cyber Attacks".

The App Security Imperative: Closing the Cyber Gap

Application security is imperative in all phases of your agency’s software lifecycle, from design to deployment. That means you must continue to find new and better ways to embed security testing to reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your organization’s data. Recently, a rash of high-profile cyberattacks has exploited weaknesses in the elements usedRead… Read more »