The Value of Certifications for Your Government Career
No matter what level you are at in your career, earning the right certification can provide benefits that extend far beyond adding another credential to your résumé.
Professional Development
Lead with Composure
As I navigated mid-level leadership, sandwiched between my boss and my team, with deadlines looming and interpersonal tensions running high, I became a bit frantic and my lack of composure affected my entire team. Fortunately, as a new leader, I was paired with a coach to help shape my authentic leadership style. With the helpRead… Read more »
Complexity Isn’t the Problem. Pretending It Isn’t Is.
The reason so many public sector initiatives fail is not lack of effort, lack of funding or lack of good people. It is that we keep applying simple solutions to problems that are not simple and then wondering why the problems persist. This is not a criticism. It is a description of what happens whenRead… Read more »
Can You Distinguish Coaching From Micromanaging?
Most supervisors want to support their teams — but where’s the line between helpful guidance and too much oversight? In our most recent Supervisors in Government Community of Practice session, we sat down with Julia Barr, Senior Manager, Partnership for Public Service, for a candid discussion on the differences between coaching and micromanaging, how eachRead… Read more »
Celebrating Government’s Unsung Heroes: Submit a Nomination for the NextGen Public Service Awards
Public servants rarely seek the spotlight. They spend their days solving problems, improving services, supporting colleagues, and helping communities thrive. Yet many of their contributions go unrecognized outside their immediate teams. That’s why the NextGen Public Service Awards were created: to celebrate the government employees who are making a real difference and ensure their workRead… Read more »
Beyond the Red Tape: A Blueprint for Long-Term Success in Public Service
Working in government is fundamentally different from working in the private sector. It takes different tactics to build a successful public-service career.
Nobody Hands You the Blueprint for What’s Never Been Built
Four decades of building programs that never had a blueprint — and the harder lesson about trust that made building any of it possible.
The Leadership Evolution: Why “No Brilliant Jerks” and Upward Feedback Are Redefining Workplace Success
The “star performer” model sometimes comes at the cost of excusing difficult personalities. “No Brilliant Jerks” may be the solution.
You Have AI Tools. But Does Your Team Audit the Data Behind Them?
A rushed AI “analysis” exposes a gap in data literacy and human judgment. Read what leaders can do that goes beyond simply learning how to use AI tools.
The Most Important Skillset We Almost Never Talk About
Followership is much more than passive obedience, and it deserves our attention as a skillset to foster and develop. Here’s how to find the follower’s path.