Service
Service is a responsibility. We have obligations, not formal and contractual, but to me inherent, that indicate that we have a responsibility of serving others, of helping where and when we can, of paying it forward. You need not be a philanthropist or a community organizer. You could simply call on a neighbor in time of need. Hold open a door. Caretake for a loved one. Treat the opportunity of small, and big, service work as a solemn charge that you, as part of humanity, have.
Attentive Listening
Whether it be job interviews or simple conversations, more and more people I find are truly lacking in attentive and intentional listening. They’re distracted by other things. They are keen and intent (bad pun) on saying what they want to say and not simply listening to what the other person is saying. They are failing to acknowledge the other person’s point. This is beyond tact versus tactless. This is a big issue and generationally, alas, it does seem to be getting worse. Smartphones, text-based communication, distractions, and attention-demanding “everything” around us is surely to blame. Take a pause, listen, don’t jump to conclusions, don’t jump to what you wish to say irrespective of where the conversation is going, don’t talk over people, and show them your undivided — and undistracted — attention. While I would argue this is expected, common, regular and “of course” type counsel – doing so will separate you from what the “norm” seems to be these days.
Planning
I have written in these pages about planning and being planful. While maligned — think of the Progressive commercials, jokes about printed plane tickets, having a duplicate map for a big trip, and maybe a “worst-case scenario” prep bag — no has ever said I should have planned less. Usually, in hindsight, it’s the opposite. Preparation in sports, war, interviews, work, trips, teaching, consulting and even emergency management — is vitally important. Think about emergency management. Even in an area of life where you literally have NO idea what will happen (hence the word emergency) you plan for the types of emergencies you have have through continuity-of-operations-plans, hazard mitigation plans, etc.
Outside the Box’s Outside
I am writing a piece for Public Management. This article is focused on the space outside of the space that is outside the box. So-called “outside the box” thinking is a little tired, cliche and trite perhaps. But it still resonates for those in the world of public administration and organizational management. The point of my in-development article, which I will cross-publish in alternate non-paywall sources, is that the staleness of the phrase may signal that outside the box thinking isn’t that novel, unique or creative any longer. We need to go a step further. That’s my teaser and trailer. Article forthcoming.
Holidays
This is the joy of the holiday season. The lights in Main Street. The kids home from college. The gift-giving. The travel to and from. The family gatherings and the carrying out of seasonal traditions. No matter what religion you subscribe to, or maybe even none at all, you can revel and find appreciation for the splendors of this time of year.
Skiing
"There is knowledge about something, and then there is knowledge that comes from your experiences of that something. It's one thing to stand there in a lab coat with a clipboard recording data about lips. It's another thing to be kissed." attributed to Rob Bell. Lot of connections/relevance to this quote and public administration (and MPA program instruction) and coaching. I like to also think of one of my coaches, Alan Weiss and his quip on skiing. Paraphrasing - “would you want to take skiing lessons from someone who has never skied before?”
Being of Service
In the great holiday movie (perhaps it’s a cult classic for us 80s kids), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the main character, a woman organizing a pageant with some unruly kids, some misfits, etc - in response to a complaint/concern from a kid on the role they were playing states “there are no small parts, only small actors.” Again, I draw relevance to my work with public sector organizations. Every single employee, and every process and every plan and every project, has a small-to-grand (and everything in between) connection to the greater good, the whole, the purpose of this pursuit of public service. The part you play is critical. So is the part of your co-workers, your bosses, and your partners.
Contemplation and Action
Recently reading about some religions (in this case it was a mix of Protestantism and Catholicism) and the dichotomy between contemplation and action. The debate around the merits of each, how they are distinct, and also perhaps which one should “win.” I was struck by the relevance of our work in public administration. The purposeful and thoughtful work of planning, assessing, thinking, dwelling — on project possibilities, major decisions, goal-setting and so-forth. Some might call this mindful, others might call this passive. And the bias for action folks, who want to move, get things done, see progress, complete projects and effectuate the great work of public service. Finding that rhythm (and that staff complement to balance) in the contemplative vs the active is like finding gold.
Small Resets
Often times, we aim for that drastic change, that massive evolution, that monumental shake-up with some practice, project or habit. Here’s a quick-tip: just start small. Aim for a small reset. Reduce to writing one thing that’s a challenge, the myriad (if applicable) reasons why it is such, and then 1-2 things you can change up this week to improve the situation. Make a mental note or calendar entry to revisit this in one week’s time and re-evaluate and assess progress. Repeat.
Thanksgiving
The platitudes, many of which I express on the daily it would seem, perhaps get old for some people. “We have so much to be grateful for.” “Let’s always be thankful,” and so forth. However, the thing is - they are tried and everlasting adages because, well, they’re true! I do a gratitude journal entry every single day, and have for about ~10 years. I never run out of things to be grateful for. Today, with a real-feel of 18 degrees and blowing wind, it was a “warm home.” With my family together for the holiday, it was also “time with family.” With some sickness among people I know and love, it was also “my health and well-being.” The science on happiness backs this up. Make that one seminal element of Thanksgiving — expressing thanks for our blessings — a #365 day tradition.
Self-Improvement, and Desire
Recently, I heard on a podcast a commentator make a statement, paraphrasing, that a lot of self-improvement is just about learning to want better things. Say, for example, the mind-wanderer looking to improve attention and mindfulness. Changing the desire to presence and calmness, versus “the next best thing.” Another example might be the addict looking to improve by altering their life’s course away from addiction. Switch the desire to sobriety versus the drug of choice. Still another is the hedonic treadmill runner, and readjusting the mindset to focus on contentment versus more. First defining better things, and then altering any yearning to be focused on these better things…that’s self-improvement.
The Dreaded (?) 100 Day Plan
Along with “why do you want this position?” and “tell us about your management style",” a top 3 type question for public sector C-suite position interviews is “what is your 100 day plan?” While perhaps a little tired and cliche, it honestly still resonates and works and is worthy of inclusion and inquiry. It’s also worthy of full contemplation and exploration by candidates. Here’s why:
The plan shows intuition, creativity, research, etc on the part of the candidate
The organization hears a little from the candidate on their perceptions, insights and vision
Both players in the interview gain a little from the other in terms of what might indeed be in store if we select each other here
Plans like this are massively important and these prompts should be posed to gain clarity on how the relationship might (will?) work, moment 1
These Times
Participated in a recent conference where the speaker was talking about both sides of the “hope” issue. Hope and also hopelessness. And how with social media influences, overall negativity/pessimism and so forth, that the latter is winning in certain circles. One thing that really struck with me — and it reminds of the adage “you bring your own weather — and that is the commentary you often hear on “during these times.” The speaker basically said, enough already, you are these times. Your actions, decisions, responses, activities, etc. Own your own actions and control the controllables. Leave at rest and hold a bay, those matters that you do not control.
Checking-In
We all get caught up in life’s craziness. Kids, family, sports, travel, work, Bills games (arrghh) and so forth. It’s easy to just go day to day as the hours and activities take you and not be purposeful about your own time management. One tool that is great to establish a reset, and a life pause, is simply to check in with someone else. A friend, network connection, work colleague, family member, anyone that’s not you. Reach out to them and see how they are doing. Then, go back to worrying about how your supposedly Super Bowl level team is going to make the playoffs with this muddied picture and these anemic performances.
If it’s not a “Hell Yes!” it’s a No
Recently, I was discussing with a local government leader on their contemplation of another opportunity. They were waffling, indecisive and perseverating on the decision analysis. Borrowing from the great Derek Sivers, I simply asked “is it a hell yes, I want this job!?” There was some hesitation. I then said, “it’s a no, then.” Be all-in on something as important as a career shift or job change, or don’t be in at all.
Community development
I feel like this has been said ad nauseum for a decade+, but I do believe as more “rural” places obtain better broadband service, maintain amenities, emphasize public safety and safety in general, allow for events/festivals/programming, and have a good school districts that they are the places where people will migrate/gravitate towards in the year(s) ahead. Emphasizing community, walkability, and 3rd places will be important in this equation. Also, having affordable housing options across the income and also age spectrum is a must-have. This is where Land Banks and other groups can play a role.
What holds people back and What to do about it
Recently, at a forum for leveling up your career, the panelists (I was one) were asked what are impediments to career progression for aspiring local government managers and what can they do about it? I noted that bad job descriptions, lack of skill-based hiring decisions, “time in the saddle” requirements, and also biases (race, ethnicity, gender, geographic, community type, rural /urban, community size, etc) are the main ones I see. Lately, too, the dreaded AI screening tools. Keeping busy, taking on stretch assignments, networking, obtaining new skills, and working on increasing and expanding your “career capital” were provided recommendations to addresses these challenges.
Tracking Information
Heard a variation of this recently on Cal Newport’s podcast. It relates to the tracking of one’s mood as connected to what media/information one is being fed, using information consumption tracking and religiously tracking such data for a week to see what results can be gleaned. Then, assess afterwards based on the results, where/what/how/when/why you can update, curate, trim, augment, add and subtract. Track all your info sources (news - TV, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, some other feeds, radio, etc). Jot it down daily. Then each day assess mood on a 2 (fantastic/great) to a -2 (really bad) scoring instrument. Track daily for a week. See what you find and then calibrate.
Framing
While working recently with a physical therapist on one set of issues (running form improvements to prevent injuries + a lingering shoulder concern), I subsequently created a new issue, a major calf strain. My PT, once he was able to diagnose what it was not (muscle tear, Achilles issue and so forth), referred to it plainly as a setback. I found this fascinating and, oddly, very helpful from a mindset and framing perspective. Simplified. Matter-of-fact. Distilled down to its core. Something, yes, but a setback - nothing more, and nothing less. How can we (you) similarly use this type of framing in our world of public administration?