http://www.govexec.comSarah Agan is a regular contributor to Excellence in Government. She has spent the past 17 years working with clients across the federal government with a focus on helping individuals and organizations thrive. She is a Director at Corner Alliance Inc.en-usMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:35:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/04/why-you-need-180-seconds-silence/62444/A technique to try when starting your next meeting.Sarah AganMon, 15 Apr 2013 15:35:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/04/why-you-need-180-seconds-silence/62444/Management - Promising PracticesImage via NLshop/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/02/4-times-you-should-say-exactly-what-you-think/61421/How you know you're ready to tell people what you really think.Sarah AganFri, 22 Feb 2013 17:39:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/02/4-times-you-should-say-exactly-what-you-think/61421/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Alias Ching/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/02/creating-good-bad-sick-dog-gives-gift-perspective/61274/How journaling allows me to create good from bad and make anything possible.Sarah AganThu, 14 Feb 2013 14:52:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/02/creating-good-bad-sick-dog-gives-gift-perspective/61274/Management - Promising PracticesSarah's dog Coby. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Agan)http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/01/do-you-have-brag-partner/60479/If sometimes you need to acknowledge your victories and give yourself a little pat on the back, get yourself a brag partner.Sarah AganFri, 04 Jan 2013 14:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/01/do-you-have-brag-partner/60479/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Tom Wang/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/get-out-your-own-way-taming-your-fraud-monster/60242/Take back control from the little voices that hijack your success and have you play small in the world.Sarah AganTue, 18 Dec 2012 14:19:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/get-out-your-own-way-taming-your-fraud-monster/60242/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Albert Ziganshin/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/start-your-day-8-irresistible-principles-fun/60078/Having a rough morning? Want more fun in your life? Start your day with this video.Sarah AganTue, 11 Dec 2012 10:49:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/start-your-day-8-irresistible-principles-fun/60078/Management - Promising PracticesYouTubehttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/face-loss-how-gratitude-helped-me-thrive/59966/When the author’s beloved dog passed away, an experiment in gratitude helped her through and deepened her relationship with her husbandSarah AganWed, 05 Dec 2012 15:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/face-loss-how-gratitude-helped-me-thrive/59966/Management - Promising PracticesSarah's dog Gem. (Photos courtesy of Sarah Agan)http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/how-truly-go-vacation-webster-style/59756/Most of us, according to Webster, aren't actually taking vacations--and our performance is likely suffering. How to take full advantage of your duly entitled time away this season.Sarah AganTue, 27 Nov 2012 13:30:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/how-truly-go-vacation-webster-style/59756/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Stanislav Komogorov/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/3-things-all-organizations-need-survive-budget-cuts/59514/Teams that thrive during uncertainty have developed these three basic principles.Sarah AganWed, 14 Nov 2012 12:12:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/3-things-all-organizations-need-survive-budget-cuts/59514/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Marekuliasz/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/post-election-blues-your-first-step-toward-recovery-electoral-insanity/59309/Your first step toward getting past the negative energies of election season is a reality check.Sarah AganTue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/11/post-election-blues-your-first-step-toward-recovery-electoral-insanity/59309/Management - Promising PracticesImage via WimL/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/when-it-comes-preparedness-theres-no-time-petty-fighting/59136/Sandy showed us preparation is a better plan than luck.Sarah AganTue, 30 Oct 2012 17:09:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/when-it-comes-preparedness-theres-no-time-petty-fighting/59136/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Karen Sarraga/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/stop-wasting-time-trying-get-along/58971/The idea of us all working together is nice – and overrated.Sarah AganTue, 23 Oct 2012 15:35:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/stop-wasting-time-trying-get-along/58971/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Olly/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/what-does-your-wanted-poster-say/58798/Sir Ernest Shackleton's honest wanted poster drives how my firm looks for new talent.Sarah AganTue, 16 Oct 2012 10:29:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/what-does-your-wanted-poster-say/58798/Management - Promising PracticesImage via John Hyatthttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/2-things-ive-learned-my-ass-umptions/58638/While yelling at a neighbor I learned that my reality is not always the truth.Sarah AganTue, 09 Oct 2012 11:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/2-things-ive-learned-my-ass-umptions/58638/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/how-my-husbands-videogames-made-me-better-listener/58505/Actually listening to what he likes about Xbox revealed a lot about him--and me.Sarah AganTue, 02 Oct 2012 09:55:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/10/how-my-husbands-videogames-made-me-better-listener/58505/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/does-your-job-matter/58339/If what we do doesn't make a difference to at least one person, perhaps it's time to stop.Sarah AganTue, 25 Sep 2012 12:34:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/does-your-job-matter/58339/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Mesut Dogan/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/collaboration-creating-action-or-stalling-progress/58191/It's often said that a camel is a horse designed by committee--how do you find the balance between going it alone and collaboration?Sarah AganTue, 18 Sep 2012 15:47:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/collaboration-creating-action-or-stalling-progress/58191/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Laszio Halazi/Shutterstock.comhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/when-losing-winning-leadership-lessons-zenyatta/57837/Sometimes heart and spirit are more important than who won or lost.Sarah AganTue, 04 Sep 2012 13:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/09/when-losing-winning-leadership-lessons-zenyatta/57837/Management - Promising PracticesPhoto courtesy of Cheryl Ann Quigleyhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/08/generate-commitment-following-through-yours/57747/Leading by example is never out of style--especially when you're actually committed.Sarah AganWed, 29 Aug 2012 20:44:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/08/generate-commitment-following-through-yours/57747/Management - Promising PracticesFlickr user Wonderlane