The New Torches and Pitchforks
We've all heard that actions speak louder than words but I don't think that is an axiom we can decry with a certainty any longer; in part, as a result of the power of the social media sound bites. The tag line or sound bite from an incident is often more powerful and...
National Safety Month: Stay Safe Out There!
How many businesses and agencies have you visited where the “Days Without Injury” sign reads in the single digits? What about the sign at your organization? This is one instance where the greater the number, the greater the success at workplace safety, and June is the...
The Cycle of Life
I hugged my eldest son, Christy, two weeks ago, probably for the first time. He was about to disappear through the departure gates to board a flight to Dubai and begin a new chapter of his life with Emirate Airlines. Grown men don’t often embrace but we both knew this...
Big Data’s Big Role in Government Careers
From Michael Dell to Forrester to the International Institute for Analytics, leaders across all industries predict big data analytics will be the next trillion-dollar market to significantly impact businesses of all kinds. The big data analytics field, which is...
A Side-By-Side Boss
In the CBS television show, Undercover Boss, senior leaders in these companies learn about the work lives that their employees experience, although in an unusual and perhaps somewhat directed, way. But the concept is solid. In the high performance, values-aligned...
Use Your “VOICE” to Advance Your Career
The words you speak have power because it represent your mindset. If you speak negatively, then your mind is only focus on the negativity, which leads to negative behavior. For example, if you tell others that you don’t qualify for a job, then your mind is focused on...
It’s National Foster Care Month!
The month of May is a month for celebrating new beginnings. Weather patterns are turning, and summer is just around the corner. In the spirit of providing new beginnings for many children who need them, May also happens to be National Foster Care Month. National...
Are You Using LinkedIn for Your Job Search? You Should Be….
In today’s competitive job search market, it is crucial that you are networking and conducting your search using multiple venues. If you’re just checking online job posts, or skimming over the classifieds in your local paper-then you’re missing out. Using social media...
Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Valuable or Futile Movement?
As I continue to evolve professionally, I have taken on the role of running a gender equality initiative with hopes of advancing women in and out of the workplace. Women compose half of the workforce and delivering opportunities, such as advancement and promotions,...
Is Your Workforce Engaged?
According to a recent Gallup study, a mere 30 percent of the workforce is engaged. So if 30 percent of your employees are engaged, 70 percent are disengaged. Additional research by Gallup reveals that engaged workers are the most innovative. As if motivating employees...
Information Governance Insights: Preparation Leads to Success
Last month we discussed finding a vendor and selecting software for an electronic document management system. So what do you do while the procurement people fight over the contract and you're waiting to get on the schedule to install this magic box that will solve all...
Start a Government Employee Volunteer Program!
Do you have multiple employees within your municipal organization who give back to your community through volunteering with nonprofits? If so, April is their month, and if you don’t have an employee volunteer program (EVP), it’s the perfect time to do it. National...
Core Democratic Values
Core Democratic Values (CDVs) are the only topic I remember learning in first and second grade. However, beginning in third grade and beyond, I don’t remember CDVs being as integral to the social studies curriculum. At the risk of generalizing, the shift of my...
Ingredients for a Successful Career Path: N-C-E
Ingredients for a successful career path: networking, communications, and developing subject matter expertise In reflecting over the span of my career in government (and in the private sector) I have come to a recognition that are several valuable elements for...
A Serving Leader’s Ego
The following is excerpted from their book, The Serving Leader. In this excerpt, Mike, who has been called to help his dying father’s leadership project, goes to visit a company whose leadership style has been an influential part of his father’s project. His guide,...
Downsizing Government: 2016 Realities
Government employees often cite job security, together with generous retirement and fringe benefit packages, as factors which initially attracted them to their jobs and serve as a powerful retention force. However, after the recession, Government employees now...
Information Governance Insights: Trust But Verify
Well, time marches on and your Information Governance program is humming along like the well-oiled machine that it is! You know this because things are getting filed, requests come in, orders go out and everyone's questions have slowed to a bare trickle. A testament...
Communication in Our Changing Political Landscape
If you have not paid attention recently, there have been presidential primary elections and caucuses held across the country with more to come. About half of the states have voted for one or both major parties at the time of this writing. This election cycle,...