“Get smart” means paying attention to co-workers, friends, family, spouse, or a partner. Nothing brings more stress to interpersonal relationships than carrying frustrations home after work. Get smart means getting smart. Being aware of all this takes work. Being smart about the law, political motivations, and social context is part of our job. It is… Read more »
Ghost Whisperer, iRobot, and many crime shows depend on detective work based on access to other people’s memories.Young people need expertise that gets them out of their chairs and to step away from their computers. Administrative ghost whisperers, younger staff or not, should seek out older staff. That experience should not be disregarded as a… Read more »
The other day, while I was thinking about what to write for this week’s post, I got to thinking about the rise of reality television. I was pretty young when it started…but it has become a pretty big part of popular culture. One of the more peculiar reality shows I remember was one that wasRead… Read more »
It’s one of those weeks – maybe one of those months – when you’re so overwhelmed and frustrated with work than you can barely see straight. Your inbox is swamped with inane requests, your boss just gave you a passive aggressive review, and if your coworker leaves her empty soda cans in the sink one more timeRead… Read more »
It possible to train yourself to become happier? This question fascinates me, which is why I was intrigued by this infographic from the folks at Happify, a site where you can sign up for a daily regimen of scientifically-backed happiness-boosting games. The infographic is based on current research on what makes people happier at work,Read… Read more »
What did you have to tell yourself to get out of bed this morning? How did you pump yourself up on the commute in to work? We all have days when we need a good pep talk, but if you’re telling yourself one of these 6 lies to get going every day, it may beRead… Read more »
You are the happiest government employee in your agency just about now! You received the long awaited call from your human resource (HR). You got it! Yes! Yes! She, the HR Specialist called you to offer you the position. In fact, she even asked you if you are still interested in the position! How couldRead… Read more »
I know StrengthsFinder 2.0 has been mentioned in the GovLoop community, but I want to vouch for it. If you haven’t already taken this online survey, check it out at http://strengths.gallup.com/default.aspx. The survey tests your preferences among 34 themes and spits out a nice report on your top five strengths. These are the areas whereRead… Read more »
Whether you’re deep in the job hunt or just curious about new possibilities, an informational interview can be a fantastic way to get your foot in the door at a new company, build contacts, and score new opportunities. What’s an informational interview? An informational interview is essentially a face-to-face conversation that lets you get informationRead… Read more »
I’m going to let you in on a little secret (but I should warn you, you may not like it!) There’s no such thing as a problem employee… or a bad boss… or a lousy colleague. These people just aren’t sitting in the right chair. See, somewhere along the line, they failed to ask aRead… Read more »