Oh my gosh. It’s almost 2015! How did that happen?! Other than working to deadline and wondering if it’s too late to send parcels, here are some things I’m thinking about for my work life and the new year. If you build it, they may not come. Our love affair with technology has taken usRead… Read more »
Yup. It’s that time of year when people are telling you how to have the best year. A successful year. A stellar year. A life changing year. Please, have all of those things in 2015. I’m here with a quieter message. I’ve got a few tips for you on how to simplify your start toRead… Read more »
Public servants have a hard enough time without giving each other grief. And yet, how many of us are guilty of taking part in office gossip? I try to be a Good Human, but I sometimes fail. And I sometimes gossip. Reflecting on this, I’ve realized that I had no “Gossip Strategy”. Now I do.Read… Read more »
Maybe your leader isn’t doing everything you want. For you. For the team. It can be frustrating. You ask for so little, but you’re just not getting it. What to do? How about model the behaviour you’d like to see from your leader. Here’s a few things you can do that may result in a good outcomeRead… Read more »
Sometimes you know you’re working for a great leader and sometimes, well, sometimes you know you’re not. Here’s my tips for spotting great government leaders. 1. They put public service first. What does it mean? It means they have a commitment to public service and to the greater good. What does that look like? They thinkRead… Read more »
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak when he was in Calgary, Alberta. At the conclusion of his talk, he took a few questions from the audience and I was fortunate enough to be able to ask him about public engagement. I asked, “What, if anything, should weRead… Read more »
I admit it. I didn’t know much about Marc Prensky or his 2001 article on digital natives until about, oh, 2006. Though I find his article fascinating and the conversations and research that it sparked equally interesting, I want to bring a slightly different and lighthearted perspective to this conversation. I have found that there isRead… Read more »
Okay. That’s harsh. Yup. It is. Does it count that I’m being harsh with myself first? And foremost? Here’s the thing. When I started out in public service, I said what I thought. Now, I was raised right – so I said what I thought, but I said it politely and patiently and in aRead… Read more »
We all know those coworkers — the ones that are just not getting it done. You may feel like it’s your responsibility to bring them back up to speed and into a good performance, but if you’re not their direct manager, there’s really not much you can do. Here are seven tips to lessen theRead… Read more »
As an engagement practitioner, I find that people are often confused about the distinction between research, communications and public engagement. Of course clearing up this confusion often begins with knowing whether each field is seen by the audience as being distinct and separate or just one big mess of government stuff. And whether there isRead… Read more »