The success of managers in government organizations is defined by their ability to achieve results and drive change. Results and change come about through conversation and it’s not always easy to initiate the conversations that are required. In fact, many managers...
A recent IPMA-HR member poll reported some good news about the state of the public sector workforce. The poll had some bad news as well. The good news? In the survey 81% of the respondents said that their agency was no longer conducting layoffs. This is a welcomed...
This is the time of year when many public employees are struggling to set performance goals for the coming year. Are you staring at the computer screen wondering where to start? Here are four kinds of goals that you might consider when establishing your performance...
The public sector has really been through the ringer lately and some are saying it’s only going to get tougher. Jennifer Schramm in the December 2013 issue of HR Magazine says there is a growing view among young job seekers that the fading security of public sector...
Are you a finisher? Do you love the feel of completing a task and checking it off your list? Goal completion is a strong human motivator. Yet, writing significant goals that have a positive impact on the work environment can be tough. Here’s a framework to...
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...
In the employee performance evaluation meeting you probably have the urge to do all the talking – to tell the employee what the evaluation document says (or worse yet, read the document to the employee). You tell the employee what you think of their performance. You...
The end of one year provides us with a wonderful opportunity to start fresh in the New Year. In many public agencies a fresh start means new annual goals. Many managers see goal setting as the opportunity to list the classes the employee will attend for the coming...
Human resource (HR) departments in public agencies are fighting for credibility. Pressure to contain costs, engage employees, and be strategic has led many HR departments to flounder. HR wants to be seen as a resource and a trusted advisor to management. HR needs to...