One of the best movies I enjoyed watching was “A Few Good Men”. It starred Tom Cruise as a Naval Lawyer defending two young Marines. If you saw this movie, or if you plan to watch this movie it’s important to remember two things were not in THE BOOK = Code Red and directions toRead… Read more »
“Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” – Margaret Chase Smith The past year has been tough for government works, the pay freeze, sequestration and then the dreaded government shutdown, to name just a few. But whatRead… Read more »
There are some common practices undertaken by leaders to ensure successful organizational transformation. We will share some of these from our many years experiencing different organizations in type, size and sector. In one instance the owners of a small family-owned manufacturing company embraced an entirely new concept of order taking and production. A team-based andRead… Read more »
Last Thursday a military judge reprimanded a General in response to the sexual misconduct case making headlines over the last few weeks. No jail time was handed down. Some commented on how it was a slap on the wrist, perpetuating the views held by some, that the military is a male dominated culture of nonRead… Read more »
On GovLoop Insights’ DorobekINSIDER: Just like Ben and Jerry’s 170 different flavors of ice cream, political appointees also come in a variety. You have your political types, your regulators, your implementers and your collaborators. So how can the Office of Personnel match the right political appointee to the right job? Insights in part two ofRead… Read more »
Last night as I was listening to Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, I thought of the quote, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I could tweak Albert Einstein’s quote to make it relevant to my situation, “Insanity: listening to a Bob Dylan album over and over andRead… Read more »
In a world of opportunity and privilege, how do you stop and remember that not all live in that world? How do you give back to your community? For me personally, the notion of noblesse oblige, and giving back, has always been important. In my business, as well, one of our core beliefs and practicesRead… Read more »
Just like Ben and Jerry’s 170 different flavors of ice cream, political appointees also come in a variety. You have your political types, your regulators, your implementers and your collaborators. So how can the Office of Personnel match the right political appointee to the right job? Paul Lawrence is a partner at Ernst & Young.Read… Read more »
Picture this: Lucy has convinced Charlie Brown to run up to kick the football while she is holding it. Charlie races toward the ball and just before he kicks it, Lucy pulls it away – again. Of course, Charlie kicks nothing but air and winds up on his back with a thud; humiliated and disappointedRead… Read more »
The political appointee is one of the most prized and most difficult positions in government. These individuals are plucked (mostly) from the private sector, dragged through the Senate confirmation process and handed the top-job at an agency. They are expected to lead, but often don’t have the tools necessary to manage the difficult and nuancedRead… Read more »