Author: Dr. Dana

Best kept secret for getting stuff done: The Agile methodology

Best kept secret for getting stuff done: The Agile methodology

Posted by | Mar 5, 2018 | , |

Unless you are in IT, IT tends to be this mysterious department. There are lots of strange words and magic to get that glowy box on your desk to turn on every morning. However, they have a secret in IT that I think everyone outside of IT can benefit from. A secret that can help you get twice the work done in half the time. This secret methodology offers clear roles, processes, and tools that you can use not only at work – but at home.  It’s the agile methodology. What is the agile methodology? I could go into...

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Need help managing up? Try appreciating up.

Need help managing up? Try appreciating up.

Posted by | Feb 19, 2018 | , , |

Did you know there was such a thing as Boss’ Day? I didn’t. It’s October 16th. It was a surprise to me because appreciation and recognition is discussed almost exclusively in regards to the average employee.  I frequently get asked about managing up. And, while there’s a number of suggestions I might offer, the one that’s most unexpected is to appreciate up. Let’s explore why bosses deserve some appreciation (although Boss’ Day might be a bit of a stretch) – and how to do it. Now, if you’re like me, you didn’t know there was a Boss’ Day. And,...

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Are you an appreciation scrooge? Emotional stinginess isn’t a performance management tool

Are you an appreciation scrooge? Emotional stinginess isn’t a performance management tool

Posted by | Feb 12, 2018 | , |

You can’t have a discussion about employee engagement or retention without ending up in a conversation about rewards, recognition, and appreciation. Why? Because it works. But, really. Why? Because there seems to be a persistent belief that to give appreciation generously will somehow decrease performance. In a way, emotional stinginess has become a performance management tool. The biggest appreciation scrooges will say, “Why do I have to recognize someone just for doing their job?” And you know what? I get it. I’ve SAID it myself. Hi, my name is Dr Dana and I’m a recovering appreciation scrooge. There, it’s...

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Do you want to feel better or get better? Appreciation vs feedback

Do you want to feel better or get better? Appreciation vs feedback

Posted by | Feb 5, 2018 | |

Do you feel under appreciated? You’re probably not alone. In fact, the authors of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace cite that 70% of employees feel underappreciated. And Forbes tells us that 66% of us who feel unappreciated are likely to quit. As a result, government managers are increasingly charged with finding ways to recognize employees for their contributions. And, it seems that employees are increasingly told that they need to more proactively seek feedback to get the appreciation they desire. As the emphasis on the need for appreciation and recognition rises, the lines between the two...

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Personal branding: Does it matter for government employees?

Personal branding: Does it matter for government employees?

Posted by | Jan 29, 2018 | , , |

I posed this question to Google: Does personal branding matter in the government? If we were to believe what the top 5 hits, the answer is no. While the search returns a couple recent (but mostly older than 2012) hits, it’s really about branding of an agency. But, I think Google’s got it wrong on this one. I think personal branding does matter in the government. Now to be fair, Google’s search results are based on what people write and on the reputation of the site the person writes it on. What I take away from this search result...

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