The U.S. federal government is mired in political budget wranglings that may result in another government shutdown. If this seems all-too familiar, that’d be the painful memories of the last government shutdown in 2013. But, the federal government can’t stop completely. And, even though the possible government shutdown is just a couple of days away, it’s far from certain that it willRead… Read more »
Handwritten notes can go a long way toward strengthening your relationships with others and keeping your network active.
In the 21st century, we are constantly inundated with digital innovations and necessities. It can become very overwhelming and confusing. Digitizing everything, especially important information, is a must not only for our day-to-day lives, but also in the workplace. Fortunately for some of us, there are various experts out there trying to help clear theRead… Read more »
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog arguing that everyone designs. In that post, I talked about how those of us with little to no design experience are still designers (just little “d” designers), as we work to improve situations and experiences around us. Big “D” Designers, on the other hand, are those individualsRead… Read more »
As communications professionals, we have a never-ending thirst for images that support the public affairs products we create. Below I’ve created a list of nine websites that provide royalty free images. Many of these sites allow unrestricted use of their images. In short, you often can use their photos as you please, as long asRead… Read more »
During the Second Annual State and Local Government Innovators Virtual Summit, keynote speaker Akash Karia delivered a thought-provoking presentation on how to improve your communication skills to be as effectively as a TED talk presenter. Karia identified storytelling as the key for government agencies, and any public entity, to better deliver their agency’s messages andRead… Read more »
Truth is a point of view, but authenticity can’t be faked. Peter Gruber One of the challenges that we have in New Zealand – like so many other places – is how government engages with people. The intentions are good: public servants are genuinely interested in creating policy and implementing processes that work well forRead… Read more »
In the digital age, where a 140 character tweet can be considered news, the art of storytelling has been lost. To make matters worse, government has been hit with a double whammy of poor public support and complicated processes and procedures. How easy is it for you to explain your job to a friend at… Read more »
Every year, more merchandise flows across national borders. In the fiscal year of 2012 alone, $2.38 trillion in US-focused imports took place, representing a five percent increase over the previous year – a figure that is only magnified in the global landscape. Yet traditional customs activities and resources remain cumbersome, and success brings alongside itRead… Read more »
Working for a publication that almost exclusively serves the public sector and its partners, I routinely deal with practitioners and leaders at all three levels of government. Previously, I worked for an organization that archives data for government research projects. Along the way, I’ve picked up several tips and tricks for working effectively with electedRead… Read more »