In 2026, public-sector workforce challenges are structural, not temporary, requiring agencies to move beyond traditional staffing models toward intentional workforce architecture. Rather than focusing solely on headcount and hiring pipelines, leading organizations are designing capability systems that align roles, skills, workflows, and technology directly to mission outcomes.
Physical AI is moving from concept to reality, which means leaders will soon face innovations that feel uncomfortably close to home.
As governments accelerate digital modernization, many struggle to convert new tools into measurable mission outcomes. This article examines the critical gap between digital readiness and organizational confidence — why technology alone is insufficient — and offers leaders a practical framework for building enterprisewide confidence in an uncertain 2026 landscape.
Meetings are a window into your organization’s culture. How do you make them matter? Here are some tips on making your meetings culture-changers!
Teams may feel fortunate to still have jobs after major cuts, but that fades. Real leadership starts after the layoffs, when the culture feels stretched thin.
Recent fraud regulations are creating a powerful catalyst for transformation. Agencies can leverage these changes to modernize policy and processes.
As fraud risks accelerate across public programs, recent directives and enforcement actions signal a decisive shift from compliance-driven oversight to executive-level accountability. This article outlines what local, state, and federal leaders must understand about evolving fraud expectations, enforcement priorities, and governance responsibilities — and why fraud resilience is now a leadership discipline. It concludes with… Read more »
As uncertainty becomes a permanent condition for government leaders, strategy must evolve from a static plan to a stabilizing system that allows for clear decisions, coordinated action, and sustained trust. Agencies can move from reactive crisis response to confident, continuous execution.
Traditional hierarchy works a lot like speed bumps. It slows teams down no matter how talented or motivated they are. This article breaks down how flattening structure, shortening approval paths, and giving teams full ownership of outcomes removes friction so they can finally move at the speed leaders expect.
In our most recent Supervisor Community of Practice virtual networking discussion, we sat down with Patrick S. Malone, Ph.D., Director, Key Executive Leadership Programs, Department of Public Administration and Policy, American University, to discuss how, as a leader, you can polish your performance management skills to better guide your team to meet its goals.