The Appeal of Local Government
Despite serving on the Advisory Board of an organization dedicated to local government professionals, I came into my MPA program at UNC-Chapel Hill interested in federal government. But over the last five months, while maintaining an interest in the federal...
The Manager’s Role in Retaining Talent
Surveys measuring overall employee satisfaction attest to the fact that government workers are more disengaged on the job than their private-sector peers. Turnover can be directed to either the more positively perceived private-sector, or more forward thinking...
5 Skills You Need to Pursue a Career in Political Communications
Political communications is a challenging field that demands a unique set of skills. On one hand, the work allows you to focus on a cause or candidate you believe in, but politics also requires a thick skin and a quick wit. To succeed, it’s important to be a strong...
Public Service Career Spotlight: Emergency Manager
Typically when we think about emergency management, we think about the professionals who are on the ground when an emergency happens—such as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders. However, there are also a number of...
Trash Worthy Technology
I recently attended a conference on waste to energy in southern California. I was amazed at the amount of municipal employees who could see the writing on the wall with regard to the next generation of technology coming online. The ability to manage the last 10 to...
The Future of Government Work
Walk the halls of government today and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. You’ll observe hierarchical, siloed organizational structures that date back to the era of black and white television, antiquated IT systems, and service delivery models...
Revisiting JFK’s Call to Public Service 50 Years Later
“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country” President John F. Kennedy With those words and the creation of programs such as AmeriCorps and the Peace Corp, President Kennedy challenged a generation to enter public service. That...
Beyond Gridlock in Local Government
The facts on the ground Government will continue to be in the vortex of a perfect storm. It must Do far more, with far less Forge ahead in unchartered waters yet maintain stability and constant service Find new ways to seek efficiency, yet maintain a competent...
Give the Gift of Employee Recognition
The holidays are gift-giving time. In the workplace gift-giving doesn’t mean you have to spend money to acknowledge the good works of employees. With reduced budgets and stretched resources, this is the perfect time to give what employees crave most. According to...
How to Pursue a Career in State Law Enforcement
Law enforcement can be an exciting career choice for anyone interested in public safety. State law enforcement officers are tasked with the challenge of enforcing the law, providing patrol, and investigating crimes. This field includes a wide range of career paths...
The Three States of Momentum
There is an intriguing co-existence of frequencies in all organizations that leaders are quite familiar with: That individuals typically are driven by motivation, while organizations (or substantial groups within them) predominantly run on morale. Leaders--and...
What Makes a “Good” Government Leader?
In its 2012 Best Places to Work survey, the Partnership for Public Service found that US federal civil servants are less happy with their jobs than at any time since 2003 (when the organization first started compiling its rankings of the best places to work in the...
Tips for Giving Gifts to That Government Employee On Your List
With the holidays coming up, we’re faced with that age-old question: What gifts should I get for my co-workers, and is it even appropriate to give out gifts at work? And if you work in a government position, you’ve also got to take into account the regulations laid...
Colin Powell and His Perpetual Optimism
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege to attend a significant gathering of regional leaders from across Southern California. The guests included members of Congress, the State legislature, regional and locally-elected officials, and scores of leaders of...
Making Time For Personal Development Planning is No Waste of Time!
When is the last time you set aside time to reflect and plan for your OWN career development? Can’t remember? Been too long? Well, maybe this fun fact from the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) will give you that needed nudge. According to CLC, the use of Individual...
Employee Retention: Time for a Culture Makeover?
Although the recovery is benefitting many sectors of our economy, organizations find that simply throwing money at high performers turns out to be an ineffective means of retaining top talent. Money rarely ranks at the top of “why I love my job” list. As competition...
Successfully Transitioning From a Military to Civilian Career
In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase of former military leaders flooding the job market. They are either returning from duty or deciding to make a change in careers. If you fall into either of these scenarios, knowing your transitional career title...
A Career as a Politician – UK verses US
If you’re considering a career as a politician then firstly, you’re brave. Secondly, there are many areas of politics in which to practice and for some, the natural progression into politics comes from many different places. Those who have studied law are often seen...