The ABCs of Encouraging Each Other: Creating Better Relationships
If you’re like me, you take so much for granted….your freedom, your coworkers, your relationships. Here are the basics of keeping your coworkers encouraged.
What Challenging Yourself Really Means
Today, I will try to challenge you. As a young professional, I often hear key phrases like this when attending career info or advice sessions. Established professionals at some point always say how important it is to “Challenge yourself! Get out of your comfort zone! Do something that makes you scared.” When I hear suchRead… Read more »
Cyber-What do the People Want from Govt?
The data collected, saved, utilized, and disseminated from the public is an essential part of government’s backbone. But at the same time, the government must be good stewards of the data. It’s their job to secure constituents’ data. But with great data collection comes even greater responsibility. In the 21st century, American citizens are demandingRead… Read more »
Building Resilient Teams
No matter how savvy, smart, and cooperative your team, challenges can shake up any rhythm, discourage those involved, and derail progress. Resilience is the secret to learning from mistakes and growing stronger after a major challenge. Building resilience starts with team culture.
5 Tips on How to Have A Tough Conversation At Work
We’ve probably all been a part of difficult conversations that went spectacularly wrong. There were meltdowns, hard feelings – maybe even ruined relationships. Because of this it can be hard to want to bring up a difficult subject when the need arises. We brace ourselves for confrontation, and put off the conversation as long as… Read more »
What Is Innovation? Says Who?
Innovation is a broad topic talked about in ways which confuse the subject. It’s also a subject that generates a wide range of reactions. This blog defines innovation and views it through three lenses – customer, organization, individual – to bring into focus what it might mean for you. I like to use a definitionRead… Read more »
What I Learned About Working in Government from Long Distance Running
When I’m not saving the world as a federal government employee, I enjoy long distance running. My relatively short legs do not quite paint the picture of an elegant, gazelle-like runner, but I have laser-like determination, a “never quit” attitude, and perseverance for days. When I run, I am able to tune out many everydayRead… Read more »
The Leadership Strengths of Introverts
It’s no secret that extroverts hold the majority of leadership roles in the professional world. When you call to mind a high level executive, you probably picture someone with an outgoing personality and commanding presence, instead of a quiet, reflective individual. A USA Today study even found that 65 percent of senior level managers believeRead… Read more »
A GovLoop Mentee Reflects on Mentorship
Marissa Marquez, Assistant City Attorney at City of Houston’s Office of Inspector General, was a participant in this year’s GovLoop Mentorship Program cohort. As we finished up the 2015 program, Marquez recounted how her mentor, John Sim, an Assistant Director in the Justice Management Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, helped her rethink herRead… Read more »
Leadership Development and Selection in a VUCA World
Likely you’ve heard the term VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) and, perhaps, some agencies have begun utilizing the acronym in long-term strategic planning. But have you thought about its application in leadership selection and development? Here are some considerations to think about. Recently, at an international conference relating to assessment center methods, I listenedRead… Read more »