We’ve all been dismayed by the recent failures of Healthcare.gov. I wrote a recent blog about my frustration with government contractors who seem unable to take responsibility for their failures. But that leaves me with the question of why so many government projects fail. To be honest a lot projects fail in some way orRead… Read more »
The pundits all seem to be asking, “What went wrong with the rollout of healthcare.gov?” But there is a bigger more substantial question for government. Why does government struggle with large procurements? That is the questions that Raj Sharma asked in his piece in the Public Spend Forum: Healthcare.gov, A Procurement Problem or a ProgramRead… Read more »
“The world has a habit of making room for the man whose words and actions show that he knows where he is going.” – Napoleon Hill “Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts he has built into his character have brought him there.” – James Allen “Man wasRead… Read more »
Unfortunately a lot of people are afraid to ask questions, they see it as a weakness . . . afraid of looking silly. Successful people are successful in part because they’ve learned the art of asking questions. By asking questions you will improve your competencies, effectiveness and your likability. Scientist asks questions to learn more;Read… Read more »
The workplace is filled with misunderstandings both big and small. An off hand comment can send a workplace spiraling. The diversity of the government make misunderstandings even more common. Because of varied backgrounds, experiences and perceptions, employees can interpret messages from managers quite differently, leading to confusion and conflict. So how do you get aroundRead… Read more »
I saw the movie “12 Years A Slave.” I have seen other movies on slavery, such as Amistad and Glory, but none were as potent and realistic as this was. I came out with my head full of feelings of pain and injustice, as if I had just lived through those 12 years as aRead… Read more »
Help us celebrate the best in public service! Nominate yourself or someone you know for The 13th Annual Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Awards for Distinguished DC Government Employees. Established in 2000 and now in its 13th year, the Cafritz Awards program recognizes the extraordinary service and commitment of public servants who – often workingRead… Read more »
Every day it seems like tech companies unveiling new and revolutionary technologies and agencies can’t get their hands on the technologies fast enough. But there is a problem. Agencies are siloed. That means that the government often end up buying the same technology twice. North Carolina is trying to curb the problem by creating theRead… Read more »
“My people don’t get it. My staff is incompetent. I feel like I’m babysitting instead of doing real work. My team is dysfunctional. I’m sick of my employees bringing me problems instead of solutions.” Ever hear yourself registering these complaints to a confidant, significant other, or friend? I’ve heard these laments from many clients. ThereRead… Read more »
“I” is a very powerful pronoun, but it has two distinct personalities – no doubt you have observed both. “I” can be used to convey power and significance to the subject at hand – the speaker is going all in as the poker players would say – infusing their knowledge, experience, and reputation into theRead… Read more »