Getting a job in state or local government isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re looking for a management position. Some individuals work their way into the public sector through internships and fellowships, while others start as line staff and slowly work their way up. Here, are 13 tips to help you onRead… Read more »
Five years ago yesterday, I started my first day as the Social Media Director for the IBM Center for the Business of Government. The tulips in my garden had just started to poke out from the ground, and the DC region was still digging out from the Snowmeggedon that had walloped us three weeks prior.Read… Read more »
Equal employment opportunity (EEO) has always been a cornerstone of the federal civil service. The government prides itself on striving to be a model employer and setting an example for the private sector. Many government agencies have a positive record of achievement on EEO issues and fostering work environments which are diverse, fair, inclusive andRead… Read more »
You don’t need the promise of a golden statuette in your hand to polish your presentation skills. While you may never take the stage at the Oscars, the acceptance speeches can serve as examples of what to do and what not to do when it comes to public speaking. This isn’t about debating the politics in some of the speeches, though there was politics aplenty atRead… Read more »
Last night was the 87th annual Academy Awards, also known as my favorite night of the year. Pretty much from the day the Oscar nominees are announced, I start plotting how on earth I’m going to see all of the films with Best Picture nominations. Now, seeing the Best Picture nominees isn’t a huge task,Read… Read more »
There is no question that security is becoming one of government’s top IT concerns. Breaches have become so frequent that it is no longer a question of if they will occur, but when. According to a GAO report, the number of security incidents at federal agencies that have involved the potential exposure of citizens’ personalRead… Read more »
So, we’re working to increase the creative capacity of the Scottish Government (more about that in a previous post). But how do we know when we’ve actually done that? Well, that’s a very good question, I’m glad you asked. The measurement of creativity is challenging, not least because of the number of elements that supportRead… Read more »
For so many of us in the professions, we’ve spent our adult work lives acquiring and perfecting skills that are designed to take us on a path to success. But as a Civil Service officer, what happens when we get to the top of our career ladders? We’re at the highest grade and we’ve essentiallyRead… Read more »
This week I had the good fortune to attend an event on social media strategy in the federal government. Even the most cursory review of the agenda made it clear: this form of communication has officially “arrived.” The event was: Sponsored by the well-respected Federal Communicators Network, which was established 19 years ago by theRead… Read more »
The distinction between “management” and “leadership” is important, because they serve different roles in an organization — and they require different approaches in how they are developed. The Government Accountability Office has released its updated list of high risk areas across the federal government. It flags for attention the mission-critical skills gap in jobs suchRead… Read more »