Back in the late 1890s, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon was asked by his eight-year-old daughter, Virginia O’Hanlon whether Santa Claus really existed. According to the New York Times, O’Hanlon suggested she write to The Sun, a prominent New York City newspaper at the time, assuring her that “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” He unwittingly gaveRead… Read more »
I don’t know about you, but I dread explaining my job to my family members back home. And with the holidays just a few weeks away, I know I am going to get asked, “You write about government employees all day? Why? They are just boring bureaucrats.” As I sit at the table, eating myRead… Read more »
As January 1 draws near, rankings and recaps of this year’s accomplishments will be published with fervor. You have probably already read innumerable lists that tout government achievements—things like building smarter cities, implementing novel technology, and finding new ways to engage citizens—in 2014. Understandably, big innovations receive big attention. Yet other accomplishments, particularly those where a traditional process isRead… Read more »
Not all introverts are shy, and you certainly don’t have to be an introvert to hate speaking up in crowds – but if I tell you that I’d both rather be home reading and also get the cold sweats when I have to talk to people, you’ll probably wonder why I’m writing a post on networkingRead… Read more »
Late last month, Robert Lavigna penned an article for the Harvard Business Review titled “Why Government Workers are Harder to Motivate.” And this is certainly a topic he’d know a lot about: Lavigna has a long history in government HR, having served as the director of the Wisconsin Civil Service System, at the GAO, andRead… Read more »
My dad loves his gadgets, especially when it comes to cooking. I couldn’t name half of the contraptions and devices he has bought that are now floating around the family kitchen. And each one seems to have a new electronic component, like his barbeque skewer that digitally conveys the temperature and other data about theRead… Read more »
NASA has been named the Best Place to Work in government in the large agency category for the third year in a row. Those who work at NASA know it’s a great place to work. We are the world leader in space exploration and cutting-edge science missions and contribute to the economic vitality of our… Read more »
Because you’re so clueless, you use words like “engaging” just because they’re the latest buzzword. Because you look away from me when I’m talking to you, like that “how fast can I get out of here” kind of look. You check your goddamn PHONE! YOU DON’T HAVE ANY EMAILS! Because you don’t listen to aRead… Read more »
Companies small and large talk often about the need to be more innovative, but progress without reflection misses a crucial component of cultural innovation. That is, how often do these companies reward top people and their projects? The EPA Innovation Team has several goals: support innovative bench science in the laboratories, demonstrate the power ofRead… Read more »
NASA has done it again. For the third consecutive year, it ranked highest among large federal agencies for its employee satisfaction, according to the 2014 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government survey. The big question is, of course, how NASA continues to do it. This is especially puzzling when overall federal employee satisfactionRead… Read more »