Conflict and Innovation – Give Yourself Options
You can’t determine conflict outcomes by following any process. But you can own your behavior to give yourself options – and increase the chances of making conflict constructive.
5 Ways to Have A Quick One While He’s Away
It’s lunch time here at the cubicle farm and I’m distracted while trying to come up with a clever subject for this week’s blog. I have three, seriously three, colleagues sitting near me clearing their throats every 30 seconds or so. Not in time or anything synchronized because that would be very funny. I don’tRead… Read more »
GIS-based Real Property Management for Government
Recently, GovLoop, Esri, and PenBay Solutions hosted an online training titled, “Facilities are Mission Critical: GIS-based Real Property Management for Government”, to illustrate how facility managers can utilize GIS to improve building and real property management. The speakers for the online training included: Bill Barron, Chief Executive Officer of PenBay Soltutions Benton Yetman, Director/Strategic Technology atRead… Read more »
Tell Me Straight: Plain Language in Governance
Reading wordy language is a real pain. As a graduate student of a social sciences discipline (I recently got a Masters’ in gender studies), I saw some of the most ridiculous examples of convoluted and elaborate language out there – social theory seems to spontaneously inspire this habit. It was annoying as a student, asRead… Read more »
Is Open Data Worth the Hype?
“Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset.” – President Barack Obama, in Transparency and Open Government memo. Today, there is an increased focus on the value of open data, especially inRead… Read more »
The Case of the Introverted Extrovert
There has been many a night in my lifetime where I dream a dream about not being able to speak or my voice is gone. I try to scream and shout but not a word comes out. Paging Dr. Freud: I think this has something to do with me being concerned about whether my voiceRead… Read more »
“I’m Going to the Super Bowl Again!” Reaching Goals Through Teamwork
What is the key in achieving great things? I have been thinking about this since the Seahawks’ championship win against the Packers that has had everyone up here in the Pacific Northwest walking around in a glorious euphoria. In case you missed it here is a quote from QB Russell Wilson’s post game interview thatRead… Read more »
4 Ways to Succeed as a Young Manager
Getting promoted to a management position at a young age deserves a hearty congratulations! But it can also be quite the challenge, especially if many members of your team are older than you. Young managers walk a fine line, balancing the need to demonstrate their capabilities on the one hand without alienating their older teamRead… Read more »
Identifying and Dealing with a Weed (Toxic Person) in Your Garden?
Dealing with Toxic People (in my People Gardening terms I really like “Weeds” better), is not always easy. Of course we go through those same thoughts I asked originally, pull them, ignore them, eradicate them, but you know, what I’ve realized, is that it doesn’t make us any better to pretend them away in any… Read more »
Selected Also Means Sustainability
You are the happiest government employee in your agency just about now! You received the long awaited call from your human resource (HR). You got it! Yes! Yes! She, the HR Specialist called you to offer you the position. In fact, she even asked you if you are still interested in the position! How couldRead… Read more »