Leadership

In Praise of Basic Research, or It Doesn’t All Have to Be Useful

I try to remember to do basic research every once in a while, where I figure out how the world works without a goal in mind. This contrasts with applied research, which is about solving particular problems or taking advantage of specific opportunities. The distinction can be pretty clear in science. For example, in physicsRead… Read more »

Nothing succeeds like success

Winning breeds winning I admit it, I like to win. There is something about success that just makes me feel good. Maybe it’s just the endorphins talking, but sometimes that win or success seems to feed into the next. It turns out I’m not the only one. “The winner effect” describes a biochemical change thatRead… Read more »

Are budget cuts the real catalyst for Innovation?

Think about this; stability rarely breads innovation. Traditions and norms don’t generate creativity. So keeping that in mind, doesn’t it stand to reason, that severe budget cuts like the ones that the government is currently dealing with, could be the real catalyst for growth and innovation? That’s the hope of Alan Balutis. Balutis is seniorRead… Read more »

Newest Federal Jobs: Data Scientists

Big data, data analytics, data, data, data. We’ve heard the buzz words all year. But now Rich Campbell the Federal Chief Technologist at EMC says 2013 will be the year that big data becomes a part of agency’s mission. And in order for that to happen Campbell told Chris Dorobek on the DorobekINSIDER program thatRead… Read more »

5 simple ways to do your job better in 2013

All year long we’ve been talking about ways you can improve your leadership skills. Find a better job. Make a difference. So we wanted to take a step back and pull out the five best pieces of advice we’ve heard this year. It’s all part of our mission to help you do your job better.Read… Read more »

3 Steps to Changing Habits in the New Year

It’s the first day back from the New Year. And I’m guessing you may have a New Year’s Resolution you are working on. Maybe it’s exercise more, arrive early to work, or speak more at meetings. So how do you make it happen? Check out Stanford professor BJ Fogg’s Behavioral Model. BJ is one ofRead… Read more »

Is Our Illustrious Congress Trying to Bury A Smoking Gun…..Again?

“The Government Man” has been quiet lately but an obscure news release over the weekend pushed my buttons again about one of my favorite topics, our ineffective and morally lacking Congress. Buried in the news on a Saturday before New Year’s weekend, the slowest media day of the week, if not the year, was aRead… Read more »

Rethinking the Disclosure of Public Information

The New York State Committee On Open Government, led by Executive Director Robert Freeman is a great resource regarding New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and New York’s Open Meetings Law. Mr. Freeman is very accessible by telephone, mail and e-mail and always willing to provide guidance to anyone with questions about accessing governmentRead… Read more »

Incredible Time Management Tools

Time management is critical for local government administrators and managers. During my career in local government I found three tools that helped me retain control of my time. With the New Year here I thought I’d share these tools to see if you can incorporate them for your use. If this article is of valueRead… Read more »