As a small child, I was impressed by those who could effortlessly toss several objects into the air and continue their co-existent flight for elongated periods of time. I marveled in particular those especially talented people who could do this with a wide variety of...
Change Isn’t Easy
Let’s change something! How fun! (Sarcasm font.) How do you react to change? Many people don’t like it. They don’t welcome it, at least not at the start. I’ve had to adapt to change physically. I have CMT, a neurologic disease that causes calf atrophy, foot drop, and...
How to Engage with an Introverted Co-Worker
Sometimes it’s like working with Eeyore--well, maybe more cheerful than that, but still reserved. You try your best to engage with that introverted coworker. You encourage her to participate in teambuilding activities. You invite him to lunch. You ask for her input....
Building a Team or Team Building; there’s a Difference?
In the early days of my career I had many mentors, some formal and some informal. One thing was for certain: I learned a little something from everybody regarding team building. From some, I learned very specific lessons on how not to treat people or how not to lead...
11 Strategies for Building Your Self-Confidence
Employers want to hire self-confident people because they are likeable and believable, and an indicator of how they might be in the role and in their organization. Employers ask themselves ‘can I trust this person to deliver?’ and ‘will this person reflect well on us...
Dress for Success in Your Government Career
The creation of a viable professional image is more complex than we might imagine. When we consider our professional image and how others view us, we assess the differences between how we wish to be seen (confident, reliable, hard-working) against how we believe we...
Managing Your Brand When Work Isn’t the Right Fit
Congratulations. After weeks, or months, of job hunting, not only did you locate your “dream job” but they liked you and hired you. You’re excited to start contributing to this organization, especially as they appear ready to let you implement your brilliant ideas at...
My Perspective on the Fundamentals of Non-Discrimination Policies
I recently gave an interview about the need for non-discrimination policies in the workplace. The questions reminded me of why we need to protect our workers in both the public and private sectors. The biggest remaining question is, however, what can we strive for?...
Workplace Etiquette and Manners
From the little I have been able to piece together, workplace etiquette and manners are held as a priori - especially when it comes to analyzing situations with our stereotypical glasses. There is an assumption in our education and to a greater extent our public lives...