“Responsibility” was the operative word at the Association for Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) Spring Membership and Training Conference. The 300 PTAC counselors, staff and managers gathered to attend the conference attended numerous presentations emphasizing responsibility– responsibility to their clients, to the federal procurement process, and to the public’s dollar. Although a variety of topicsRead… Read more »
Last year, a couple colleagues and I put together a workshop (full slides below) entitled, “How to Use Social Media and Not Jeopardize Your Job.” I delivered a variation of it at the Philadelphia Federal Executive Board’s EEO and Diversity Day back in November. During the workshop, participants break into small groups to grapple withRead… Read more »
The focus of the Thought Leadership Executive Level Think Tank Training session is compliance with Executive Order 13583 and Executive Order 13548 on diversity and inclusion in the federal sector and strategies and best practices for diversity and inclusion within industry and other fields. Supervisors/Executives (thought leaders, influencers & visionaries) from government, private sector, nonRead… Read more »
[If you do not wish to receive my free mailings, email [email protected]] Hi, As we rapidly stream through the holiday season and New Year, I hope you can reconnect with loved ones, whether in person or electronically. I hope too you will take the time to pause and recall both fond memories and any feelingsRead… Read more »
Confession time: I owe North Dakota an apology. About six months ago, in light of the economic pressures on government employees, budget cuts and downsizings, further calls for their jobs or at least slashing their pensions, I wrote a satirical “Shrink Rap” ditty called “The Reorg Rag.” It started: It can’t happen here, I haveRead… Read more »
At the IRS, we believe one of our greatest assets is the diversity of our workforce. Acknowledging all aspects of that diversity is an important part of our mission in the recruitment office. It’s incredibly important to celebrate the cultural melting pot that is the IRS. From people of different races and ethnicities to theRead… Read more »
Could your agency be doing a better job fostering diversity during the hiring process? Or maybe your agency does a good job recruiting diverse candidates but struggles with retention or employee development. While there are already structures in place to promote fair hiring, the White House wants the Federal workforce to become “a model ofRead… Read more »
Okay, I know I’m dating myself, but have you ever led a staff meeting and realized that it was clear that a good chunk of the people there had no clue what you were talking about when you alluded to Howdy Doody, Tonto or Slinkies? Or when new staff seems to be more absorbed inRead… Read more »
As discussed previously on this blog, hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of of events. So, in studying the usefulness of hermeneutics in public administration, we must consider how different groups interpret events differently. Here’s an example: Last year, one city determined that its volunteer boards and commissions were composed of only 15% minorities,Read… Read more »
Yesterday, I posted a slide deck about “Social Media: Time Saver or Sucker?” from my talk at a National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) professional development event. Well, I was busy at the event and also presented on marketing and leading Millennials. Below is that deck: 9 Rules of the Road to Reach Millennials ViewRead… Read more »