This is a a child whose name I don’t know. In North Darfur, greeting the United Nations, a couple of years ago. Looking at her, I hate my spoiled ways. Can’t live without wifi for half an hour. But then I think about the people who are trying to help her. People whose names youRead… Read more »
Everybody’s got a LinkedIn profile, a Twitter feed, and a Facebook page. But few are making the most of these tools to enhance their professional value. Here are 5 things you can do right now to better promote yourself. They don’t cost any money. Why not do them all, right now? 1. Profile photo. I’ve beenRead… Read more »
Communications, Human Resources
You think your reputation is excellent. After all: Your recruitment video is top-notch. Your “brand ambassadors” are the best on campus. Your marketing materials are beyond compare. But your news coverage is kind of…pesky. Employees “talking trash,” who never took their case to you before “spilling it.” Consider these examples: The U.S. Customs and BorderRead… Read more »
Roger Goodell was on ESPN saying that he was gonna fix what was wrong with the NFL. “It’s my job to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” Referring to Ray Rice. Outside the pizza shop a woman stood just off the lip of the sidewalk. She was skinny and wore a yellow tank top andRead… Read more »
I treat my work with a raging passion: “What is this, the Boston Tea Party?” You’d think so from the intensity with which I move puzzle pieces around. Hoping it will all fit faster, better, more impressively than any other machine ever made before. The same goes for people I work with on a project.Read… Read more »
A few months ago I did a brave thing (for me) and finally registered to vote as a Libertarian. It was a tough thing to do. For one thing Libertarians have a sort of crappy brand. For another they’re a little weird. Thirdly they’re not mainstream, and so they influence rather than win elections. ButRead… Read more »
Sometimes I wonder why good people suffer so in organizational life. For example: Messengers of doom are punished or ignored rather than rewarded. Computer glitches, safety lapses, ineffective leadership; employees who show every sign of endangering the workplace. All of these are routinely reported by attentive people, and frequently just as swiftly disregarded. StrategicRead… Read more »
Human Resources, Leadership, Miscellaneous
Every year on October 1st the Federal performance cycle resets itself. Combined with the Jewish High Holidays (Yom Kippur and the accompanying fast just ended) the amount of navel-gazing can literally make your stomach hurt, as well as your eyes. But it also helps you to grow. So, here’s to distilling some simple things-you-already-knew fromRead… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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