Digital Transformation: Beware of Elephants and Gorillas
It seems that everyone these days is racing to transform their organization in order to take advantage of the Big Data wave. As I’ve been saying for several years, Big Data and Business intelligence are important and valuable technologies every organization should implement if they want to keep up with their competitors.
Are Trading Posts the Future of Local Government?
It is an all-too-familiar fact that professional athletes can and do become part of trades between teams seeking to improve. Typically focusing upon acquiring someone who offers a set of skills that will enhance the current team, these trades also can be seen also offer the opportunity to help on organization.
My 5 Pillars of Resolve
Many people have asked me what goes through your head in the middle of an extreme cancer battle. Where did I find the resolve to keep going when everything looked so dark? And did I take anything from the experience that I still apply in my life today?
Successful Survey Strategies in Government
Last November, the government I am employed by requested employees take the organization’s anonymous biannual survey. As with any organization-wide, multiple question survey, the results are at times underwhelming because of the central limit theorem, but the trends are none-the-less interesting.
Why Should You Care About HIPAA?
Why should county executives, commissioners, and managers be concerned about the HIPAA Security Rule? The answer is simple. You, as a commissioner or executive will be held responsible if your organization suffers a catastrophic security event or breach.
3 Billionaire Traits Bezos, Musk, Zuckerberg and Blakely Have in Common with a Postage Stamp
What do Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Sara Blakely all have in common? Well, apart from being an exclusive card-carrying member of the Billionaire Boys and Girls Club, all four remarkably share the same three traits of a postage stamp. Let me explain. I recently wrote a book titled, How a Postage Stamp Saved My Life: 21 Powerful Tips to Defeat Depression, Skyrocket Your Self-Confidence & Achieve Your Goals.
Public Sector vs. Private Sector
After working in the private sector for over 25 years, I took up a senior position in the public sector last year, so I guess this article was always going to be written.
My assessment of both systems.
Information Governance Insights: In with the New!
Happy New Year! This is the start of my fourth year writing this blog for Careers in Government and I am sure many of you that have been following it are wondering what there is left to discuss on the subject of Information Governance? The answer to this can be found in the time honored tradition of “out with the old, in with the new”! Every organization uses the new year to act on some new strategic plan and every Information Governance must be ready for it.
How to Wow a Prospective Employer with Your Potential
One of the frustrations job seekers identify is the limitations of the resume and job interview for putting across who they really are. They may lack experience and their qualifications are no longer enough to convince employers. Many employers are risk-averse, particularly in tough economic times, and go for the tried and tested candidate. How do you get across your potential and persuade an employer you are a better bet?
Rejecting Complacency
A couple months back I listened to a TED Talk by Jon Bowers titled, “We should aim for perfection – and stop fearing failure”. I could not help but consider the relationship between ideas on perfection and failure to the recent trend of near daily stories of sexual harassment and impropriety of men in positions of power.
Must-See Management Talks All Business Leaders Should Watch on YouTube
Managers and leaders are knowledge-thirsty by nature, constantly looking for ways to improve upon their existing skill-set. On top of this, they are looking for techniques to motivate and inspire their workforce. Though most successful people tend to spend a lot of their time reading, we’re lucky enough to live in an environment where we can digest information in a variety of different ways.
Why I Love to Write About My Teacher’s Experience
Teaching is an interesting art. There are so many things to learn from it. Students are a great source of inspiration for all educators. They bring in new information, new perspectives, and new points of view. If instructors think they know it all, teaching proves them wrong. You never know everything, and you can certainly absorb fresh knowledge daily.
7 Surefire Ways to Gain More Credibility in the New Year
It’s the time of year where many of us are talking about what we want to lose–a few pounds, some bad habits, a toxic relationship. Today, I’m inviting you to consider what you have to gain– investing in a few key actions to improve your credibility and enhance your reputation.
The Postage Stamp & the Law of Paying Attention
Consider the postage stamp. The postage stamp has sharp, laser focus. It does not get distracted. It has only one goal. It pays attention to what it must accomplish. At the end of its days, it will have engraved on its epitaph: “It secured its success through its ability to stick to one thing.”
When I interviewed author Darren Hardy, he said, that the greatest challenge today is controlling our attention. “We are living in an era of epic distraction,” he said. “There is so much that begs for our attention. We are forever in reaction mode, whether it be to our inbox or social media accounts. But we must learn to be insanely focused.
Taking Our Generosity Beyond Ourselves
Earlier this fall, my wife and I attended a wonderful evening dinner theater, in which the themed evening was “A Tribute to Frank Sinatra”. During the course of the show, we were entertained to no fewer than 50 of the great melodies made classics by Ol’ Blue Eyes. Prior to the show, we settled in for a magnificent dinner, and during that time, our host came out to greet the audience. After announcing some memorable anniversaries and special occasions among those in attendance, the host offered a wonderful short story about Sinatra.
Is Your Workplace Too Bureaucratic?
OK, we all know the ol’ stereotype of how bureaucratic government jobs can be. I’ll let you determine the extent to which that’s true in your own unique situation. Instead, I want to underscore just how damaging bureaucratic behavior can be and how to address its root cause—which we’ll get to momentarily.
The Competitive Opportunities in Innovative High-Tech HR Trends
2018 is right around the corner and isn’t too early to begin considering the HR and hiring trends for the upcoming year. 2017 was mainly about culture and performance. Another vast internal shift is coming, however, and this one will focus on technology and how it can be utilized in the recruiting process as well finding, connecting, engaging, and hiring people. In the upcoming year, one of the shifts will focus on technology as a way of life in the workplace.
The Postage Stamp & The Power of Habit to Get Everything You Want in Life
Consider the postage stamp. It has one singular goal. It remains focused. This focus was a habit it developed in the face of fear. The fear of leaving its home and its other family of stamps, but it knows that in order to get what you want out of life, you must push through in order to create the life you want, and not just settle for the life that is given to you.