1. Consistency / follow established processes 2. Integrity 3. Empathy 4. Action (not just talk) 5. Followup 6. Communication about what affects them / resources where needed / help prioritizing and eliminating busywork /deconflicting areas of confusion 7. Detail orientation 8. Technical proficiency 9. Reliability 10. Read… Read more »
In March, top Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the causes of federal employees’ low morale. The last few years have been challenging for federal employees and leadership. With a three-year freeze on basic federal pay rates, multiple government shutdowns, and unpaid furlough daysRead… Read more »
Shortly before I left my previous job in April, I was sitting in a meeting when the host explained “this is the meeting before the meeting before the meeting,” and I couldn’t help but make a wise crack about it… after all, I had one foot out the door. I had spent the past threeRead… Read more »
Like fantasy football, achieving federal goals in your organization starts with a draft. The success of your mission depends on hiring the right employees, creating an intentional strategy, and knowing when to trade. A weak team will lower productivity and end an otherwise promising fiscal season. But, how do you build a team that willRead… Read more »
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to receive some really good advice from senior government leaders. I carry these “golden nuggets” around in my brain and refer to them often. Hope they are useful to you! 1. “If you want to be successful, be polite, be professional, and have a good work ethic.” 2. “TheRead… Read more »
Here’s the thing about me, I am a sucker for a pull at your heart-strings type of story. Videos of soldiers coming home to surprise their families routinely reduces me to tears. So, I knew I needed to mentally prepared for the keynote address by Staff Sergeant Keni Thomas during NASCIO’s Annual Conference. While I hadRead… Read more »
From garbage trucks to vacant lots, cities and states are often tasked with the thankless job of cleaning up a community’s mess. These are tasks that are often overlooked, but are critical to keeping a community vibrant. But even in these sometimes thankless jobs, there are real innovations happening. Take Miami-Dade County where they areRead… Read more »
Leaders must be learners and last week I completed the Healthcare Leadership Development Program. It was great program focused on each of us as individual leaders, the healthcare environment we operate in and leadership in crisis. As a wrap-up, each participant was asked to share a three minute success story. Not quite Ignite style (wouldn’tRead… Read more »
2014 saw the lowest federal job satisfaction numbers from feds and an unusually high separation rate, but what those numbers don’t tell you, is there are still passionate and determined federal workers who dedicate their lives to federal service. That remarkable work done was recognized Monday night in the annual Service to America Medal awardRead… Read more »
Hello, my name is Emily and I have a problem – I can’t say no. If you ask me to help on a project my default answer is an univocal yes. I can’t help myself and it is a problem, because if you stretch yourself thin you can’t give your 100 percent to any oneRead… Read more »