Comments for The KUPMC Blog http://www.kupmc.org/blog Resources to support the work of public sector professionals Fri, 11 May 2012 02:54:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on School of Public Affairs & Administration Graduation Speech by Public Service Recogition Week | The West Wing http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2012/04/school-of-public-affairs-administration-graduation-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Public Service Recogition Week | The West Wing Fri, 11 May 2012 02:54:21 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=573#comment-136 [...] For a beautiful, brief read on the dedication of public servants, check out Emily Knight’s comments. Emily is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and [...] [...] For a beautiful, brief read on the dedication of public servants, check out Emily Knight’s comments. Emily is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and [...]

]]> Comment on A View from the Alley: Building a Personal Brand that Differentiates What Is Uniquely You by Alecia Gray http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2012/03/a-view-from-the-alley-building-a-personal-brand-that-differentiates-what-is-uniquely-you/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Alecia Gray Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:35:20 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=551#comment-82 Teresa, thank you for this article. This message is so needed in today’s world of running from place to place being whatever someone else tells us to be and do! One question you asked in Step #3 resonated with me, "What do I want others to say about me to other people?" Recently I received a compliment in a back door way - my friend Sandra told me what another friend had said in praise about my son to Sandra. Yes, it would have been nice to hear the praise directly from my friend, but the fact that she had said it to Sandra instead of me made it all the more meaningful. How often to we get to hear that someone is talking positively about us behind our backs?! (And yes, because the praise was about my son, I took it as praise about my parenting skills. Now if he starts to misbehave, that's totally him!) Teresa, thank you for this article. This message is so needed in today’s world of running from place to place being whatever someone else tells us to be and do!

One question you asked in Step #3 resonated with me, “What do I want others to say about me to other people?” Recently I received a compliment in a back door way – my friend Sandra told me what another friend had said in praise about my son to Sandra. Yes, it would have been nice to hear the praise directly from my friend, but the fact that she had said it to Sandra instead of me made it all the more meaningful. How often to we get to hear that someone is talking positively about us behind our backs?!

(And yes, because the praise was about my son, I took it as praise about my parenting skills. Now if he starts to misbehave, that’s totally him!)

]]> Comment on Is It Time To Write a Rule? by Alecia Gray http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2011/09/is-it-time-to-write-a-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Alecia Gray Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:55:19 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=488#comment-43 I've seen rules written regarding dress code, calling in for sick time, texting, etc. that were written because of one employee. It is true that these are rules that can be helpful in establishing expectations, but it seems like rules after poor behavior made them necessary need to be accompanied by conversations with the individuals that "encouraged" the writing of the rules. I’ve seen rules written regarding dress code, calling in for sick time, texting, etc. that were written because of one employee. It is true that these are rules that can be helpful in establishing expectations, but it seems like rules after poor behavior made them necessary need to be accompanied by conversations with the individuals that “encouraged” the writing of the rules.

]]> Comment on Is It Time To Write a Rule? by Leisha DeHart-Davis http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2011/09/is-it-time-to-write-a-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Leisha DeHart-Davis Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:45:37 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=488#comment-42 Writing a rule in response to a single person's behavior can produce unnecessary requirements for a workgroup if the behavior in question is isolated and not likely to be happen again. Other times, one person's behavior becomes valid grounds for a rule because the consequences are serious and the problem could re-occur if something is not done. Because is no clear formula, the decision to write a rule is a matter of (albeit imperfect) management judgment. Do you have an example of a rule based on a single incident in mind? Writing a rule in response to a single person’s behavior can produce unnecessary requirements for a workgroup if the behavior in question is isolated and not likely to be happen again. Other times, one person’s behavior becomes valid grounds for a rule because the consequences are serious and the problem could re-occur if something is not done. Because is no clear formula, the decision to write a rule is a matter of (albeit imperfect) management judgment.

Do you have an example of a rule based on a single incident in mind?

]]> Comment on Is It Time To Write a Rule? by Alecia Gray http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2011/09/is-it-time-to-write-a-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Alecia Gray Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:05:38 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=488#comment-41 In workplaces where managers are ineffective, it seems like written rules are created to address an issue that a manager is having with just one employee. The manager isn’t savvy enough in coaching and feedback so they issue a rule instead. You kind of say that in the third question managers should be asking of themselves, but I guess I’d like it addressed more directly. Have you found my statement to be true in your research? In workplaces where managers are ineffective, it seems like written rules are created to address an issue that a manager is having with just one employee. The manager isn’t savvy enough in coaching and feedback so they issue a rule instead. You kind of say that in the third question managers should be asking of themselves, but I guess I’d like it addressed more directly. Have you found my statement to be true in your research?

]]> Comment on Plate Tectonics and Organizational Change by Noel Rasor http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2010/08/plate-tectonics-and-organizational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Noel Rasor Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:18:10 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=407#comment-35 Nicely said, Aaron. It's a nice reminder that as much as we'd sometimes feel we'd like to see some upheavals, in fact they are often more challenging experiences (e.g., scrambling to recover when a staff member leaves). But the little things we do really do matter over time. Nicely said, Aaron. It’s a nice reminder that as much as we’d sometimes feel we’d like to see some upheavals, in fact they are often more challenging experiences (e.g., scrambling to recover when a staff member leaves). But the little things we do really do matter over time.

]]> Comment on Plate Tectonics and Organizational Change by AaronB http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2010/08/plate-tectonics-and-organizational-change/comment-page-1/#comment-34 AaronB Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:29:02 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=407#comment-34 10 years ago, I was in college working towards a natural resources degree, as was a lot of our current employees. Within that time span I have held 3 different positions, located in 3 different areas of Kansas and interacted with a lot of people. I feel like I've gone through a lot change. I could possibly cause sudden and dramatic changes in our agency by accepting a new position. On a smaller scale and some what similar to plate tectonics, I can influence my agency's directions by voicing my opinions and through my daily work. Even though my daily decisions may seem insignificant at the time, they do add up and influence the future. 10 years ago, I was in college working towards a natural resources degree, as was a lot of our current employees. Within that time span I have held 3 different positions, located in 3 different areas of Kansas and interacted with a lot of people. I feel like I’ve gone through a lot change.

I could possibly cause sudden and dramatic changes in our agency by accepting a new position. On a smaller scale and some what similar to plate tectonics, I can influence my agency’s directions by voicing my opinions and through my daily work. Even though my daily decisions may seem insignificant at the time, they do add up and influence the future.

]]> Comment on Business Reading Recommendations by Noel Rasor http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2010/08/business-reading-recommendations/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Noel Rasor Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:29:16 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=403#comment-33 Thanks for sharing, Jason. Recently I read The Secret Language of Leadership by Stephen Denning and would really recommend it. I may even work on incorporating his message into ELA next time around as it's about how leaders can use the power of story to better connect to the people around them rather than the more typical approaches based on logic and reasoning. I often lean toward business books about the power of communication. A couple of my recommendations include: --Powerful Conversations: How High Impact Leaders Communicate by Phil Harkins --How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work: Seven Languages for Transformation by Kegan and Lahey Thanks for sharing, Jason. Recently I read The Secret Language of Leadership by Stephen Denning and would really recommend it. I may even work on incorporating his message into ELA next time around as it’s about how leaders can use the power of story to better connect to the people around them rather than the more typical approaches based on logic and reasoning.

I often lean toward business books about the power of communication. A couple of my recommendations include:
–Powerful Conversations: How High Impact Leaders Communicate by Phil Harkins
–How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work: Seven Languages for Transformation by Kegan and Lahey

]]> Comment on Business Reading Recommendations by jburnett http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2010/08/business-reading-recommendations/comment-page-1/#comment-32 jburnett Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:42:49 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=403#comment-32 Two books that have really inspired me professionally have been: Winning by Jack Welch Monday Morning Leadership by David Cottrell Both of these books taught me lessons that I now use on a daily basis. What is your recommended reading list? Two books that have really inspired me professionally have been:

Winning by Jack Welch

Monday Morning Leadership by David Cottrell

Both of these books taught me lessons that I now use on a daily basis.

What is your recommended reading list?

]]> Comment on Finding More Time to Do What You Love by Jessica74 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/2010/08/finding-more-time-to-do-what-you-love/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Jessica74 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:50:23 +0000 http://www.kupmc.org/blog/?p=397#comment-31 This really hit close to home for me! I have a hard time saying no and find myself feeling guilty when I do. I will commit to something and then as the date/event approaches I will find myself asking “what I was thinking?” I've been trying to overcome this for some time now and I do think I'm making progress. When I’m unsure whether I want to commit to a project or activity, I do take more time to give it plenty of thought before making my decision. As Tammy mentions, if it is not something you are passionate about then you probably won’t do your best……….and therefore you aren’t doing yourself or anyone else any favors by saying “yes”. This really hit close to home for me! I have a hard time saying no and find myself feeling guilty when I do. I will commit to something and then as the date/event approaches I will find myself asking “what I was thinking?” I’ve been trying to overcome this for some time now and I do think I’m making progress. When I’m unsure whether I want to commit to a project or activity, I do take more time to give it plenty of thought before making my decision. As Tammy mentions, if it is not something you are passionate about then you probably won’t do your best……….and therefore you aren’t doing yourself or anyone else any favors by saying “yes”.

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