Promising Practices

It’s Time to Fix the Frayed Relationships Feds Have With States and Localities

Program implementation is as important as underlying policy. A new focus on intergovernmental collaboration could foster innovation and improve outcomes.

  • Andrew Feldman and Kathy Stack

How to Use COVID-19 Testing and Quarantining to Safely Travel for the Holidays

Over the approaching holidays, people around the world will want to travel to see friends and family. Getting tested for the coronavirus can make this safer, but testing alone is not a perfect answer.

  • Claudia Finkelstein, The Conversation

How to Spot (and Fight) Election Misinformation

Misinformation and disinformation, especially online, continue to play a huge role in the 2020 election. Learn more about the types of false information you’re likely to come across this year — and how you can help fight it.

  • Cynthia Gordy Giwa, ProPublica

How to Tell If Socializing Indoors Is Safe

As the weather gets colder, many Americans have no idea whether hanging out with other people inside is risky. That’s a big problem.

  • Olga Khazan, The Atlantic

Is There a Safe Way to Be Home for the Holidays?

Throughout the pandemic, Americans have been tempted to violate public-health experts’ recommendations. The winter holidays might be the strongest temptation yet.

  • Joe Pinsker, The Atlantic

Reforming Agencies to be Ready for the Future

Former Comptroller General David Walker makes a strong case for transforming federal personnel systems to stress values of accountability, integrity and reliability.

  • Howard Risher

Saying ‘Thank You’ Matters

Few people are in government for the money; it’s critical to recognize those who go above and beyond.

  • John Kamensky

Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being

Obsessing over politics could hurt your happiness and your relationships.

  • Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic

Why Friendships Are Falling Apart Over Politics

A recent Pew survey showed just how deep the divide has become, with about 40% of registered voters saying that they didn't have a single close friend supporting a different presidential candidate.

  • Melanie Green, The Conversation

Even if Times Are Tough, Working Parents Are Happier on the Job

"When dads play a bigger role in childcare and doing routine housework, it puts both parents in a better position to succeed at work."

  • Futurity

Science Untangles the Elusive Power and Influence of Hope in Our Lives

Hope – tied to action – can be a powerful catalyst for success."

  • Richard Miller, The Conversation

Study: Sleeping in Shifts More Likely To Lead to Neurological Disorders

Breakthroughs in fluid dynamics are revealing new clues about how odd hours affect the removal of toxins in the brain.

  • Patrick Tucker

Microaggressions Aren’t Just Innocent Blunders – New Research Links Them with Racial Bias

White people are often defensive when they're called out for these subtle snubs and insults. But researchers have found that microaggressions correlate with racial bias.

  • Jonathan Kanter, The Conversation
Featured eBooks
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Retiring Early Can Be Bad for the Brain

A study of a retirement program in China found that people who retired early suffered significant cognitive decline that put them at risk of early onset of dementia.

  • Plamen Nikolov, The Conversation

Millennials ‘Can’t Even’ Get Ahead — They’re Already Too Far Behind

Anne Helen Petersen’s new book "Can’t Even" interrogates the lies millennials were told about having it all.

  • Ko Bragg, The 19th

How We Survive the Winter

The coming months of the pandemic could be catastrophic. The U.S. still has ways to prepare.

  • James Hamblin, The Atlantic

Inclusion Starts with Better Management – Here’s What Employees Say about Making Diversity Work

Dozens of companies have made pledges in recent months to make their workforces more inclusive. A scholar asked employees what they think that means.

  • Kim Brimhall, The Conversation

To Be a Great Innovator, Learn to Embrace and Thrive in Uncertainty

Many great innovators have personality traits in common. Comfort with uncertainty is critical, but passion, curiosity and a number of other learnable skills can prime you for an innovate idea.

  • Todd Saxton

Why Female Bosses Get Different Reactions Than Men When They Criticize Employees

Both male and female employees report reacting more negatively to criticism from a woman, which has implications for the success of women in leadership roles such as Citigroup's incoming CEO.

  • Martin Abel, The Conversation

Innovation In Government: What the Transition Teams Should Understand

To get things done in the executive branch, it helps to have a solid plan.

  • John Kamensky

Help Us Find the Government’s Boldest Innovators  

Nominations are open for BOLD Gov 2020, a showcase for federal innovation.

  • Aaron Boyd