Human Resources

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 »

I Can’t Make You Learn a Thing! Let the Machines Do It!

Really! What you learn is really up to you. But it is up to us to give you the best means to do that. There are methods and modalities. By methods, I mean approaches to training; by modalities, I mean training tools by which we deliver the training. Can we use multiple modalities for trainingRead… Read more »

Ramp Up Your Job Search Research

A post by Patra Frame, ClearedJobs.Net’s HR Specialist. Feeling stuck? Job search slowing? Not finding jobs that are really right for you? Go to the library! Runyon’s Corollary: Spending a few hours on the Internet often saves a few minutes in the library. Everything is NOT on the web. But your public library has aRead… Read more »

Leadership Demands Courage

With the start of the New Year I find myself in a reflective mood. Being an effective leader in government, with all the challenges of these tumultuous times, demands a deeper sense of courage and personal integrity. Leaders will be challenged to authentically stay true to our core beliefs and values. Certainly the dynamics ofRead… Read more »

What are your Favorite SES ECQs?

If you are going to consider an SES position within the next 5 years, you should begin to think about the ECQS and your experience. What’s your favorite or best ECQ? Consider the these basic tips for thinking about your leadership qualifications and preparing to write the five ECQs. ECQ #1 – Leading Change: ThisRead… Read more »