At various levels the federal government, there are structured, comprehensive career development (or mentoring) programs, like the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. Your agency might have its own version, but mentoring can be far less informal and structured, so long as it benefits both sides. If you are considering becoming a mentor to a new employee,Read… Read more »
“The greatest good you can do for another is not to share your riches but to reveal to him his own” – Benjamin Disraeli Before dive right into how to land your dream job, let’s do some internal work first. According to psychologist Sydney Jourard, 85 percent of your success in work is determined byRead… Read more »
I have a few boards on Pinterest. As I scan and search for items to pin, I always come across an inspirational quote or two . . . or one hundred. What I do when I see a quote depends on my mood that day and whether or not it calls to me. If IRead… Read more »
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I rejoined the Federal government in 2010 after a 10-year hiatus where I explored opportunities in the private sector. I was lured back into the federal fold by the promise of working on an amazing (and amazingly difficult) project. For the last four years I’ve been working with economists, lawyers, computer scientists, and engineers toRead… Read more »
What’s the primary source of frustration for you in your organization? If you’re like many, the inability to move people towards a certain goal ranks high on your list. Interpersonal relationships can be tough. If only everyone saw it your way. The reality, of course, is that this is a two way street. Their inabilityRead… Read more »
Oh, the joy of Labor Day Weekend. Beach? Check. BBQ? Check. Pool-side chillin’ with some bureaucrats? Ummm…I’m guessing that may not be your idea of a good time, but the significance of public engagement for government agencies cannot be overstated. Citizen inclusion, transparency, and participation all help promote a functioning democratic process and society. AndRead… Read more »
Flood insurance? Bank deposit insurance? Pension guarantees? Home loan guarantees? . . . No private sector business will take on some risks that the federal government agrees to bear on behalf of the broader society – at least not at an affordable price. So government, by nature, oftentimes puts itself at financial or reputationalRead… Read more »
A coffee, a run, meditation…. We all need one thing to get our brains working early in the morning. For me, it’s a long, scalding hot shower. But as a native of California, which is experiencing one of the most severe droughts in the state’s history, my long morning shower is a thing of theRead… Read more »
You’ll take chances that don’t work out. You’ll put your trust in someone and they’ll let you down. You’ll misjudge your leaps. You’ll drop the ball. Making mistakes is a natural part of our learning process, and living in fear of making them can hinder us from trying new things – and becoming our best.Read… Read more »