The key to continued employment, is to add value. Provide your boss and clients with a service that either they are unable to provide themselves, or that makes their lives easier so that they can focus on more important tasking. There is a direct path between Transparency in your job to Continued Employment, and it’s… Read more »
While there are many aspects of my detail to The Innovation Lab at the Office of Personnel Management that I enjoy, one of my favorites is access to the Lab’s space in the sub-basement of OPM’s Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building. The space is a dream for those seeking a creative and collaborative work environment. ForRead… Read more »
Teamwork and building effective partnerships are par for the course in almost every work environment. As we are continuously challenged to do more with less learning how to effectively manage our partnerships and be a stellar team player are essential to our success. How do we make the most of every partnership to ensure successRead… Read more »
What is your current salary? It’s the dreaded question of every job offer and salary negotiation. Many recruiters use this number as an anchor for salary negotiations, rather than the market value for the position you’re seeking to fill. But if you’re looking to make more money in your new role (and really, who isn’t?),Read… Read more »
Ninjas are the glue that holds our organizations together. Normally they are folks who have been around for a while, have the institutional knowledge and can point to where all the dead bodies are buried. Ninjas are loyal, often do jobs many us don’t like and can be counted on in the clutch. For theRead… Read more »
A few weeks ago, I went on vacation with my family. Or, perhaps I should say, I took some time off, because it certainly didn’t feel like a vacation at the start of it. While I scheduled the time months ago when schedules looked relatively clear, new obligations and responsibilities invaded my calendar like weedsRead… Read more »
In the seminal military treatise, The Art of War, author Sun Tzu writes, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” This maxim holds true during workplace transitions. Change for Govies is constant, taking on varying forms. Whether it’s a system upgrade, turnover, reorganization, or downsizing, it is bound to happen at your agency.Read… Read more »
Attracting and retaining talent is a challenge for many public sector organizations, especially in light of an aging workforce and an upsurge of retirees. One effective method to uncover the reasons employees jump ship, be it to the private sector or elsewhere in the public sector, is the exit interview. What is an exit interview?Read… Read more »
Many of us govies spend a lot of time at work surrounded by drab-colored cubicle walls with limited privacy or personal space. Although I long for the day that I will have a door and dream for the time when I will be able to control my own lighting (bye-bye harsh fluorescents), I have foundRead… Read more »
In my recent posting on ‘ceiling diplomacy‘ I gave names to elements of office dynamics. Below I‘ve provided a list of additional words that fit the bill. The below terms, definitions and usage will help you communicate your frustrations about office politics more effectively. 1) me-signments (noun) – Assignments you’ve taken upon yourself (i.e., FamilyRead… Read more »