The No-Slime Method for Building Your Professional Network – Part 2
We take the next steps from mapping your network, to making your request for a meeting, what to say in the meetings, and how to follow-up.
The Impact of Government Shutdowns on Innovation
With the upcoming deadline to pass the budget for the 2016 fiscal year, it’s a good time to revisit the impact of past shutdowns and Continuing Resolutions (CR) – both which can delay funding to agencies and cause uncertainty over future funding. Much has been written about the cost of these budget uncertainties, particularly aroundRead… Read more »
Past The Comfort Zone – Learning to Let Yourself Grow
Researchers call that area right outside our comfort zone a state of optimal anxiety. It’s not too overwhelming, but it’s not too easy, and it’s where we often do our best work.
8 Websites That Will Supercharge Your Online Communications
As communications professionals, we have a never-ending thirst for images that support the public affairs products we create. Below I’ve created a list of nine websites that provide royalty free images. Many of these sites allow unrestricted use of their images. In short, you often can use their photos as you please, as long asRead… Read more »
3 Reasons Why You Need a Happy File
I’ve learned the importance of having and maintaining a happy file at work, and I’ve found it so beneficial that I will always make it a priority to keep an updated happy file.
Improving Data Quality: Empowering Decision-Makers with Meaningful Information
Today’s leaders rely heavily on data-driven decision making to solve complex problems that have a direct impact on their businesses and their missions. Stakeholder concerns regarding the successful operation of their organization typically revolve around so much more than just data quality that it’s oftentimes overlooked. In reality, data quality is one of the most… Read more »
Collaborating for Better Government
For GSA, collaboration is more than just a buzzword or standing at a podium talking to stakeholders. It is a dialog – a give and take that includes understanding and respecting everyone’s needs, goals, and values. Successful collaboration happens when everyone is committed to the core principles of trust, understanding, and compromise– and the end… Read more »
Multitasking Doesn’t Help
If you were to come by my desk early Wednesday morning, you would have found me listening to the GovLoop State and Local Government Innovators Virtual Summit on my iPhone while I was working on a presentation and messaging with a colleague about an event we were planning. I was also answering emails in betweenRead… Read more »
Become Your Office’s Sherlock Holmes by Leveraging the 5 Why’s
You don’t treat a bullet wound with a Band-Aid. You don’t take a bald head to the beach without sunscreen. And you shouldn’t take all issues within your office at face value. A common technique for getting to the root cause of an issue is called the “5 Whys,” and it can be a great… Read more »
A Baby Boomer’s Advice to New Employees
After years of hiring freezes and budget cuts, we have been able to finally back-fill behind people who have retired years ago. And with work load increasing, and a decent budget, we are also able to hire some “entry level” positions to off-set our aging workforce. Often, our job openings are filled by others fromRead… Read more »