Nominations Needed: Who Innovates in Your Organization?

It seems the more Congress loiters, lingers, and lags on a budget solution, the more the onus falls on federal managers to come up with creative, innovative ideas to keep government humming along.  But as many of us, this writer included, are all too aware, the font of creativity is not something ... Read & React

NIH Director Gets Into Stephen Colbert's Brain

by Ross Gianfortune Senior Web Producer

Excellence in Government contributor and director of the National Institutes of Health Dr. Francis Collins is a multiple-appearance guest on The Colbert Report and was on with the comedian last night to promote Barack Obama’s BRAIN initiative. Deflecting Colbert’s jokes about Obama’s need to bore ... Read & React

Ask EIG: 3 Ways to Successfully Onboard New Team Members

by Jackson Nickerson Associate Director, Brookings Executive Education

Ask EIG is your chance to seek answers to public sector management challenges and conundrums.  No question is too big or small, complex or simple. Submit your questions at AskEIG@govexec.com. Have a management question nobody can solve? Ask and the experts at Brookings Executive Education shall ... Read & React

The 10 Most Common Jobs in Government

by Mark Micheli Excellence In Government Online, Editor

How common is your gig in government? The answer depends on whether you work at the federal, state or local level: Do you work for the postal service (federal), a correctional institution (state) or as a teacher (local)? If you said “yes” to any of the preceding options then you’re in good company, ... Read & React

Declare 'Opposite Day' to Supercharge New Thinking

by Mark Micheli Excellence In Government Online, Editor

Everyday you wake up and go about your day with little effort or thought. Brushing your teeth with your right hand, putting your keys in your right pocket or wearing your watch on your left wrist. These actions come just as naturally as breathing in and out. They’re unconscious, habitual responses. ... Read & React

Are the Happiest Employees Also the Worst Employees?

by Mark Micheli Excellence In Government Online, Editor

Conventional wisdom tells us that our most engaged employees are also the best employees. But a new study paints a different picture. According to a survey conducted by Atlanta-based consulting firm Leadership IQ, 42 percent of companies say that their lowest performers report actually being more ... Read & React

Sheryl Sandberg Talks Women, Leadership and 'Lean In' on Daily Show

by Ross Gianfortune Senior Web Producer

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg was on The Daily Show Wednesday to promote her book Lean In. The book has been called a must-read by our Scott Eblin and has caused a great deal of discussion online. Because of the time limits for broadcast, Comedy Central posted an extended interview online with ... Read & React

The New Key to Office Productivity? Walking

Greatist is the fastest-growing fitness, health and happiness media start-up. Check out  more wellness news at Greatist.com. When it comes to boosting energy, it doesn’t get much better than grabbing a midday workout. While fitting in a lunch break run or gym session is great, it might only take a ... Read & React

Making the Most of Furloughs: 6 Survival Tips

Furloughs: Smaller pay checks, grumpy co-workers and more work with less time to do it. The federal government isn’t accustom to furloughs, but higher education institutions confront them more regularly.  These universities have conducted many studies to determine the effects of furloughs.  ... Read & React

13 Percent of Americans Believe Obama Is the Antichrist (and Other Sad Facts)

Are you part of the four percent? The four percent of Americans, that is, who believe that shape-shifting reptilian people control our world by taking on human form and gaining political power to manipulate our societies? If you're not, you may be a touch aghast by the (still low) number. But ... Read & React