Leadership

The CIO of the Future

As federal agencies rapidly transition into a new age of cloud, security, mobile, social and big data-driven information technology solutions, agency CIOs are finding that their roles are changing as well. The recently passed Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) has the ability to inspire a profound change as it impacts the role of theRead… Read more »

How to Bounce Back from Failure

Nobody likes to fail, but it’s only by dizzying leaps of faith that test your skills (and your character) that we can grow as humans. And sometimes? Sometimes we miss the mark. Some risks backfire embarrassingly, while others backfire so spectacularly you might be fooled into thinking you’ll never recover. (But you will!) If you’veRead… Read more »

DorobekINSIDER: #GovPress – Federal Times Watkins stepping down

The press doesn’t often get thanked. It’s OK — we’re easy to dislike… and we get that. But there are times when people deserve to be thanked. Federal Times editor Steve Watkins has decided to step down from that post after 15 years as the leader of that publication. Watkins told Federal Times that heRead… Read more »

How Ann Dunkin Encourages Girls in STEM through Public Service

It’s still rare to see a woman running a government agency (only 34 percent of the SES is female), and it’s even rarer for that woman to be holding a technology position. Therefore, it was really a thrill to speak with Ann Dunkin, who currently serves as chief information officer at the US Environmental ProtectionRead… Read more »

10 Steps to Creating a Mentoring Story with a Fairy Tale Ending

Just like a good fairy tale, a mentoring relationship should have a happy ending. Each mentoring relationship is different and has its own dynamics. Nevertheless, there are certain things you should think about when you are starting a relationship with a mentor. Just like any other relationship, these partnerships require love and caring to growRead… Read more »

“What Could Possibly Go Wrong?”

Do self confident, optimistic leaders ask this question often enough, at the right time? Risk experts Doug Webster and Tom Stanton think not.  Writing in a new report for the IBM Center for The Business of Government, they observe: “The front pages of national newspapers constantly report on actions by private companies, federal leaders, orRead… Read more »

How to Give Difficult Feedback Constructively

As a manager, giving difficult feedback to an employee can be one of the hardest parts of your job. The conversation can be fraught with peril. If done well, giving tough feedback can help your team member grow – but if done poorly, you risk consequences like straining your relationship, or demoralizing him or her. SometimesRead… Read more »