Human Resources

Training – A must in any business environment, especially tough ones

In our current business environment should we train, not train, or delay training? That is the question. All one has to do is listen to the news, look at a magazine or newspaper, or attend a meeting with management to confirm that the government is in a period of significant budgetary challenges. Although we mayRead… Read more »

NCDD/DDC White House Open Government Response

The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) and the Deliberative Democracy Consortium (DDC) have put out a joint response to the recent White House call for input. It’s very solid, so please make sure to read it in full: Strengthening the Public Participation Elements of the Open Government Plan (PDF). Especially noteworthy is aRead… Read more »

Mil to Fed: Where’s Star? Not with Waldo!

On Wednesday January 18th the Department of Veterans Affairs will host an all-day outreach event at the Washington, DC Convention Center. If you’re a Veteran living in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware or West Virginia, I hope to see you at this informative FREE event. Please contact your local Department of Veterans Affairs forRead… Read more »

“Use the Culture, Luke!” Why Organizational Culture is like the Force

Recently, there has been a good amount of discussion on GovLoop about culture in the government agencies. I am hopeful that we continue the discussion because I fervently believe that cultural change is the key to fully realizing openness in local, state, and Federal governments. Maybe 2012 will be the Year of Culture as weRead… Read more »

Three Important New Year’s Resolutions for Your Federal Job Search!

Do you know the top three New Year’s resolutions for Americans in 2012? #1 Lose Weight #2 Reduce Stress #3 Financial Management The same three resolutions are also critical for success in your federal job search. Let me show you how: #1 Lose Weight Make Your Resume Lean AND Mean! Every day, we see federalRead… Read more »

What OPM’s/OMB’s New Senior Executive Performance Appraisal System Says to All of Us – 5 Key Components

I got the chance to review the new performance appraisal system for the Senior Executive Service that was issued to agencies by OPM and OMB earlier today. The new system represents some notable steps forward, including: 1) A renewed alignment: Typically, the criteria senior executives are evaluated on changes once they’re on the job versusRead… Read more »

Federal Eye: White House proposes 0.5 percent pay increase for federal workers

Ed O’Keefe reports the White House is planning to propose a “modest cost of living increase in federal compensation” in the 2013 budget that “would be the first pay jump for federal workers since before President Obama ordered a two-year freeze in late 2010.” Senior administration officials said the proposal would require professional approval andRead… Read more »

Productively Focusing Job Interview-Performance Anxiety: Transforming “Perfection” into Purpose, Patience and Possibility

[This article was written with the permission and in consultation with the below-mentioned phone-coaching client.] Once again, through the wonder of the Internet, I’ve had a chance to connect with a bright, insightful and articulate individual. Our email interaction began when Barbara, (a fictional name), discovered one of my writings, and we now periodically exchangeRead… Read more »

Our Future

No, this isn’t about the latest tech gadget or how invisibility cloaks are becoming a reality. No, this about something just as important to our future…students and youth. This week the U.S. Geological Survey launched an effort to highlight some of the amazing and talented students/youth that work at the USGS. Each month, we’ll beRead… Read more »