This week’s question is how federal managers can best communicate promotions on their team. Please continue to share your ideas and suggestions for the column by commenting below and by sending in your questions to the [email protected]. How do you handle promoting someone who’s best for a position based on abilities and education over someoneRead… Read more »
With the possibility of a government shutdown a week away, I continue to receive questions from federal employees about how it may affect them. As a result, I consulted my colleague and federal workforce expert, John Palguta, to come up with the answers to the questions that I hear most frequently.What is a furlough andRead… Read more »
While the White House and Congress work on a compromise to fund the government for the rest of the year, many federal programs will continue to be kicked around like political footballs, leaving your employees uncertain about the road ahead. The result? Stress. The anxiety among federal workers will likely increase over the next coupleRead… Read more »
Fox’s “American Idol” recently kicked off its 10th season with new judges and a new batch of hopeful contestants. Although I know many people don’t like to admit that they watch “America Idol,” I am not one of them. I not only like the amazing singers and the ones who make me cringe, but IRead… Read more »
Harold Holzer, an expert on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era, is the senior vice president for external affairs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has authored, co-authored and edited 36 books and published hundreds of articles. Holzer also serves as chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation. WhatRead… Read more »
Last week, President Obama released his proposed budget for 2012 as Congress struggles to reach consensus on funding government operations for the current fiscal year. While the size of the budget for next year and the level of appropriations for the remainder of this year remain unknown, as federal managers you already know the trendRead… Read more »
David C. Williams is the inspector general for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the largest civilian federal agency, which has $67.1 billion in annual revenue. In this role, Williams manages a staff of more than 1,100 employees nationwide who conduct independent audits and investigations for the USPS. He began his career as a special agentRead… Read more »
“How do I manage up more effectively?” That’s a question I’m often asked by federal employees, and my first reaction is empathy for the person asking the question and for the supervisor. Clearly there’s a disconnect. Both the employee and the leader are failing to appreciate that they each have responsibilities to help one anotherRead… Read more »
Thanks for your comments this week about how federal managers and political appointees can best form a productive working relationship. Please continue sharing your ideas and questions by leaving a comment or emailing me at [email protected]. Fed Coach reader and former political appointee Dan Mintz emailed with additional advice, based on his own experience asRead… Read more »
With more than forty years of experience in higher education, leadership expert Nannerl O. Keohane is a leading scholar in political philosophy, feminism and education. Keohane served as president of Wellesley College and later as the first female president of Duke University. Today, she teaches at Princeton University as a Rockefeller distinguished visiting professor ofRead… Read more »