Aspiring front-line managers often ask me, “What would you do as a front-line manager the first week on the job.” I tell them I would start having conversations with my team members that foster emotional connections. The first questions I would ask my direct reports are, “What is your personality and temperament, what are strengthsRead… Read more »
Managing a micromanaging boss can bring results, though it’s not likely to be fast. With patience and an understanding boss, however, you may be able to salvage the relationship.
For every Luke Skywalker there is an Obi-Wan Kenobi (or Yoda) and for every Justin Bieber there is an Usher. These pairs each shared a mentor-mentee relationship. Without this special bond, neither party would have achieved the accomplishments (I use the term accomplishments loosely for our latter mentee subject) they are so well known forRead… Read more »
Public Private Partnerships are a reliable method of conducting various types of business on the local, state, and federal levels. Also known as PPPs, 3Ps, or P3s these types of models allow the public and private sectors to apply the strengths and resources of each sector. P3s may be more difficult to execute than otherRead… Read more »
Bob Tiede (@bobtiede) writes on leadership at his website, www.leadingwithquestions.com. On his list of ten questions leaders need to ask themselves, Bob has this nugget about change: “When is the last time I abandoned a program?” Yikes! That is a tough one for us govies. We are skilled at identifying problems and developing solutions, whichRead… Read more »
Much has been made lately about digital services in government. Better technology. More efficient software. Increasingly agile IT. Better digital services and better technology in government are absolutely important. But technology can only take your organization so far. There is a continued importance of having people actually working and dedicating their time to do theRead… Read more »
Many of us are antsy to see our futures before they happen. Haven’t we all been tempted to have our palms read or consult a crystal ball reader? In government, thankfully, such adventures are unnecessary, as we have qualified experts who can make predictions for the coming years. William Eggers, Director for Public Sector ResearchRead… Read more »
Nobody wants to think about knowledge management, but everybody needs it. Here are the basic things an organization should have covered as part of its KM system. 1. Establishing an information architecture for multiple user groups, permission levels, and knowledge sharing environments. 2. Maintaining the architecture, adding and removing people from user groups. 3. LocatingRead… Read more »
Whether you’re excelling in your career or facing discrimination at work, it’s good have a community to support your efforts. As a woman in government, fostering diverse partnerships is crucial to bolstering your career. We spoke with Jill Melnicki, a technology consultant for state and local governments, on the need for professional women to developRead… Read more »
Wunderkind Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talks about risk taking: “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.[1]” And yet a recent government-industry conference[2] included a discussion on the question of whether federal leaders will take onRead… Read more »