Innovation is scary in the federal workspace. Although the Department of Defenses’ Better Buying Power initiatives call for the ‘elimination of unnecessary process and bureaucracy,’ people are scared to let go. I have a secret for those people, they don’t have a choice. Tomorrow’s leaders do not care about the way it was done inRead… Read more »
There has been a lot of focus on external innovation but what about creating an organization that is consistently innovative internally. This requires that leadership put in place an innovation strategy. Like many leadership initiatives, innovation requires persistency, advocacy and a culture to support it. Throw in technology and you have what I have dubbedRead… Read more »
I treat my work with a raging passion: “What is this, the Boston Tea Party?” You’d think so from the intensity with which I move puzzle pieces around. Hoping it will all fit faster, better, more impressively than any other machine ever made before. The same goes for people I work with on a project.Read… Read more »
“Money can’t buy happiness.” While this is true, money can buy survival – like food in your belly and a roof over your head. But not all of us have the same access to money or the expensive education needed to snag a higher paying job. And with low or little credit, it’s nearly impossibleRead… Read more »
Every year on October 1st the Federal performance cycle resets itself. Combined with the Jewish High Holidays (Yom Kippur and the accompanying fast just ended) the amount of navel-gazing can literally make your stomach hurt, as well as your eyes. But it also helps you to grow. So, here’s to distilling some simple things-you-already-knew fromRead… Read more »
1. Consistency / follow established processes 2. Integrity 3. Empathy 4. Action (not just talk) 5. Followup 6. Communication about what affects them / resources where needed / help prioritizing and eliminating busywork /deconflicting areas of confusion 7. Detail orientation 8. Technical proficiency 9. Reliability 10. Read… Read more »
It’s not rocket science. When we feel like our work is appreciated, we work harder and give our best – but when we feel like no one notices our efforts, we start not to care too much about our jobs. As a manager, you have a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of this basic humanRead… Read more »
Like fantasy football, achieving federal goals in your organization starts with a draft. The success of your mission depends on hiring the right employees, creating an intentional strategy, and knowing when to trade. A weak team will lower productivity and end an otherwise promising fiscal season. But, how do you build a team that willRead… Read more »
Especially in government, we constantly talk about doing more with less. But most often, those conversations focus on physical resources like office supplies, amenities, or space. And when we do think about the human element, it’s often in detached terms like ‘labor hours’ or ‘workforce supply’. However, if you manage an overburdened team, you areRead… Read more »
With the recent scandals surrounding Healthcare.gov, security breaches involving health data are of major concern to the public. We read and hear about security fraud in the news all of the time. And if you haven’t been a victim yourself, chances are high that you may know someone who has. But who are the peopleRead… Read more »