Rallying the Trades

People on the TV program “Dirty Jobs”  look like they are having such a good time.  They get constant feedback all day  – cleaning a cement truck, picking up roadkill, catching bloodworms – so they know how they’re doing without having to be told. Did you know some of these people are millionaires? As weContinue reading “Rallying the Trades”

Plan B – 5 things to do if your office temporarily shuts down

What are you doing as federal employees and all the contractors and others dependent on federal agencies anxiously await Congress to approve a budget? I hear many are doing nothing at all; business as usual. Some don’t think it really will shut down. Others believe if they don’t plan for it, it won’t happen. AndContinue reading “Plan B – 5 things to do if your office temporarily shuts down”

Under-qualified for the Job?

Can’t get promoted? Tired of new hires that you have to train? Does the next job in your career path, or in your organization, require skills or a degree you don’t have? Feeling stuck in dead-end job? I’ve heard this frequently in both the public and private sectors.  Recently I’m hearing it loudly in agenciesContinue reading “Under-qualified for the Job?”

Activity, Efforts or Outcomes

A recently released report on successful government leaders [http://www.boozallen.com/publications/what-it-takes-to-change-government] lists several characteristics, one of which is “outcome oriented.” Leaders happen at every level of the organization- formal and informally.  As we diligently work to do the best we can, we also need to ask the question, “So What?”  This is one of the most powerfulContinue reading “Activity, Efforts or Outcomes”