Unless There’s a Ring on My Finger, We’re Not Engaged

Once upon a time engaged meant going from single to partnered. Or it meant a variation of being busy – for better worse. These days engagement is such a buzzword in business-speak that it oversaturates our workplace communications. And this engagement isn’t a romantic proposal; it’s a request for our undivided attention. Is asking forRead… Read more »

5 Phrases To Cut From Your Emails

Email has become a primary form of communication for business, yet there are still so many terrible examples flooding company inboxes every day: Meandering, imprecise missives that don’t seem to have a point. Email chains a mile long that somehow leave everyone with a differing opinion on the next course of action. (When they wereRead… Read more »

5 Tips for Combating PTSD (Public Transportation Stress Disorder)

This week I finally got around to doing the annual re-certification for my public transportation subsidy program benefits (I started getting emails about it in September, so clearly I’m on top of my game). Before I clicked “submit” I took a minute to think about what I’m really getting out of this program. YES, inRead… Read more »

Transactional Engagement vs. Transformational Engagement

We have heard the federal government engagement refrain so many times; we can repeat it in our sleep. It goes something like this according to engagement consultants Lior Arussy and Ed Murphy. Management says: • Let’s do an engagement survey. • We need hard data. • Let’s share the data with employees; they will knowRead… Read more »

Why Mandatory Training Rocks

  (Comic used with permission. Check out more Fedz comics here) Government employees are excellent at being trained. Hey, we have to be, right? It seems like every month there’s a new training requirement. Have you ever heard something like this?  Or said it yourself? “What a waste of time! Don’t they know I’ve got otherRead… Read more »

Leadership Lessons from the Golden Globes

The Golden Globes on Sunday celebrated the best creative talents in Hollywood. With all the glitz and glamour, it’s easy to forget that these celebrities are driven, competitive, and accomplished leaders in television and the movies. Here are six lessons about leadership gleaned from the Golden Globes’ illustrious winners. Plan Ahead—and Plan for Flexibility PerhapsRead… Read more »

Electable

That elusive, incredibly valuable quality we call a “leadership brand.” Really, what we mean is “charisma.” What is it? Who has it? How do you get it? Can it be taught, or bought? Or is it something you’re born with? As a little girl I used to watch Sunday morning political TV. I remember howRead… Read more »