Less than half of federal employees believe they will be rewarded or promoted for doing a good job, according to a new analysis from Deloitte and the Partnership for Public Service. Only forty-three percent, or four out of every 10 federal workers, said they thought they would receive performance-based awards or better job opportunities atRead… Read more »
–Sometimes our own comments in response to a comment made about something we said surprise us. And, sometimes we like our response. I like this one response to a comment on The Anatomy of a Trainer. Hope you do, too. It’s short and sweet: I think you misunderstood my basic premise. Sorry that it hasRead… Read more »
When I was a lad, sodas were 10 cents from a vending machine. Not being fond of sweet carbonated drinks, I told friends that it would be great to have these machines dispense ice cold spring water in bottles. Of course they laughed at such a goofy idea. My bottled water idea was a larkRead… Read more »
I find myself not in Kansas anymore. This month of June has been a journey along the yellow brick road. It has provided me with a unique lens to view my office and myself through—and no I didn’t borrow those fancy green ones from the wizard. Looking at my office and reflecting on myself, IRead… Read more »
One quality that made my old project manager both successful and likable was his ability to bring colleagues together to take a break. As a smoker and a Caribou/Starbucks coffee-drinker, my manager, “Roger,” took a few breaks throughout the day. Of course, I’d often join in, but less so for the smoking breaks. I’m notRead… Read more »
Right now the federal government is being pummeled by scandals. The IRS is facing the double whammy with its conference spending and its handling of Tea Party tax audits. Meanwhile the NSA is facing a scandal of their own in its secret phone tapping. So how does government improve its reputation and get back inRead… Read more »
The other day at the next marina, there was a 32-foot cabin cruiser attempting to tie up to the dock. The captain was having a difficult time bringing the boat near the dock – very entertaining for the observers in our marina. First, the boat was aiming at the dock on an angle instead beingRead… Read more »
Hundreds of unread emails, regulatory requirements, acquisition holdups, antiquated technology – in the government it seems there is always something to complain about. But that endless cycle of negativity can not only impact your job performance but your life too. Anya Kajich is a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.Read… Read more »
Effective government evaluations require the identification and engagement of stakeholders When constructing evaluations for the government, the best way to get people on your side is to identify and engage stakeholders. This is especially helpful when your particular government agency holds a negative view of evaluations. Below, I (1) define the stakeholder concept, (2) discussRead… Read more »
Everyone has been on a conference call in their work lives. For many people, they have at least one a week. For others, 2-3 a day. One thing I’ve noticed is that it can be difficult to run a conference call well. There is no training but it is really important. Here are my tipsRead… Read more »