Leadership

The Federal Coach: Deadwood – The Myth of Poor Performers

In today’s column I look at the myths associated with removing poor performers in government and what practical steps managers can take. Even if you’re not a fan, you’re probably familiar with the Discovery Channel’s MythBusters, a series that uses science and special-effects to separate fact from fiction. The government needs its own version ofRead… Read more »

Federal Eye: Obama to take management tips from CEOs

Seventeen of the nation’s top business executives will soon start advising the Obama administration how to better manage the federal government. President Obama signed an executive order on Monday establishing the President’s Management Advisory Board, which will provide tips on productivity, customer service and the use of technology. The board will be chaired by OfficeRead… Read more »

Member of the Week: Lucas Cioffi

Lucas Cioffi graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. He served as an Army Infantry Officer for five years. He also graduated from the Army Ranger School and has earned the combat infantryman’s badge during a one-year tour in Iraq. Cioffi is co-founder of OnlineTownhalls, a software application that allows large audiences toRead… Read more »

Interested in Being at the Tip of the Spear? Be Prepared for…

This post originally appeared on my external blog, “Social Media Strategery.” Over the last three years, I’ve met a lot of people who are their organization’s social media evangelist, lead, POC, pioneer, ninja, guru, etc., and I’ve met many others who are aspiring to take on that role. Hell, I even wrote my last postRead… Read more »

Art Of Abstraction – Defeating Art Of Obfuscation

Art of Abstraction in the Investigational Architecture work – Defeating the Devious Art of Obfuscation Bell Curves as statistical derivatives provide excellent hindsight in a single agent market or in a homogenous system. However, they breakdown in a multi-agent market or heterogeneous system, where Fractals provide better foresight as opposed to statistical hind sight basedRead… Read more »

Northern Territory Public Sector – More open than the rest? Could we co-design public sector agencies?

Hi Folks. A lovely Autumn day here in Canberra Australia. OK I’m biased given the time I spent working in the Northern Territory. But, the Nothern Territory Public Sector has always been quite innovative. It all goes back the work done on the Public Service Act and sector wide leadership and management development in theRead… Read more »

One Night In Bangkok, The NBA Playoffs… only from the Hokie Guru, Govloop’s Bureaucrat on Sports

Let’s get things started… back to the 1980’s…. One Night in Bangkok makes a hard guy humble 2010 NBA Playoffs After 1230 regular season games, the NBA playoffs have arrived. Let’s take a look at the first round matchups: Eastern Conference 1.) The #1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers take on the #8 seed Chicago Bulls. ExpectRead… Read more »

Leading Through Listening

Client management is always a challenge; there’s an implicit, ongoing challenge to forming mutual and clear expectations and partnerships from the very beginning. To achieve those expectations, one needs to learn how to lead through listening. I recall my early training in project management as an architect and later as a freelance consultant, learning howRead… Read more »

ASPA Annual Conference Event: Students have an Active Voice in ASPA

At the National Council Meeting on April 10, 2010, it seems clear that the council agrees that the Student Representative (newly establish voting position on the council) should do the following: Be in contact with students (national and international) and provide students with a direct link to Council. (When I mention students above and goingRead… Read more »