Matisha Montgomery serves as the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) at HUD. In this episode, she explains what a CLO does, what you should know about learning and development in general, and gives tips on establishing your individual development plan. You can find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matisha-montgomery-b214412/

She mentions the IDP templates on the OPM website. You can find them here.

If you haven't joined the FedFam Facebook group, you should. I know, I'm not a huge FB fan either, but this group is SO helpful, supportive and just what you need as a federal employee in need of info. I sat down with Jason Coleman, founder of the group/non-profit, and current federal employee who wants to ensure you have a safe space to ask your toughest questions.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/236110660657869/

Mark Sachs is an organizational development expert and coach who works to bring out the best in his clients, many of whom are feds like us. In this episode, he delivers tips for setting boundaries in our professional lives.

You can find his website here.

Looking for something new to expand your skill set, avoid burnout, and bring new solutions back to your agency to solve thorny problems? Have you considered a detail assignment at another agency or department? Career coach Elle O'Flaherty of Interlace Solutions explains how to leverage USAJOBS' new functionality to find details or post your own to draw in new talent.

https://openopps.usajobs.gov/

Most of us are stuck in cubicles (at least when we're physically in the office these days). Workplace expert Mary Abbajay delves into the rules of engagement for surviving cubicle culture.

Mary is the co-host of the podcast, Cubicle Confidential, which you can find here. I found this podcast and really appreciated the kind, yet firm advice Mary and her co-host deliver to solve everyday problems, which y'all know I'm all about.

She also authored a book, Managing Up, available wherever books are sold. Get your copy here.

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the President issued an executive order mandating vaccines for feds...and more. You can read it for yourself here.

But what can federal employees expect in terms of implementation? What does it actually mean? Who does it impact? Deborah Hopkins and Katie Atkinson of the Federal Employment Law Training Group dish answers in this episode. They hopped on a Zoom call on the evening of the 10th to hash this out for us and I couldn't be more thankful!

If you're like me, watching events unfold in Afghanistan left you angry, sad, confused, and asking yourself big questions about what contributions you've made over the last 20 years mean now. And the anniversary of 9/11 is coming up and everyone's planning their hot takes. AND COVID is still around and if you're kids are too young for vaccination, you're still stuck at home or losing your mind with worry every time your school sends another notice about potential exposure. Feds, many of us have no safe haven right now. Enter Dr. Amy Grubb. She breaks down the feelings we're experiencing right now and gives them a name - languishing - and tools to help combat the blahs.

Amy mentions Adam Grant in this episode - learn more about him and his work here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html

https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/news/adam-grant-writes-about-languishing-in-the-new-york-times/

Listen to my (unedited because I wanted to get this out FAST) discussion with four amazing women in national security and foreign policy who are working hard to support the next generation of BIPOC leaders. They're hosting an amazing event on Sept 8th at 6pm. Register here: tinyurl.com/climbconference

They're supported by a group of sponsors who include:

https://www.wcaps.org/

https://www.lcwins.org/

https://www.outinnationalsecurity.org/

What can powerful coaching do for your organization? For you? Well, a lot. Sandi Stewart, an experienced and respected executive coach lays out what coaching is, how feds can benefit from coaching, and explains how creating a coaching practice within your agency or department might be the spark you need to reignite motivation and improve performance.

Buy Sandi's book here.

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SLS Coaching Website: https://www.slscoach.com/

The Chief Human Capital Officers' Council memo on coaching:

https://chcoc.gov/content/coaching-federal-government

In the episode, I referred to the ICF as the International Coach Federation ... it's Coach-ING Federation. You can get details here on ICF:

https://coachingfederation.org/

Department of Interior coaching program (it's a good example to look at if you're setting up a program):

https://doiu.doi.gov/fictp/

https://allianceforcongress.org/

Meet Jeff McNichols, the lead for the Partnership for Public Service's new Alliance for Congress.

The Alliance for Congress supports a more effective Congress that better meets the country's diverse needs and interests. The Alliance will build on the Partnership's two decades of experience working with the federal workforce and government agencies to increase collaboration, accountability, efficiency and innovation. In working with Congress, the Alliance will promote the importance of public service and stewardship, and champion common sense, nonpartisan improvements to make Congress a more capable and effective institution. This means professionalizing and maintaining a competent, diverse workforce on the Hill supporting our elected leaders. It also means fixing problems, working through the daily issues facing professional staff.

Working collaboratively with individuals and organizations, the Alliance will offer insights into why a well-functioning Congress matters, recognize what it does well, elevate new and diverse voices and provide critical resources to lawmakers and staff to help them build an institution that can more fully represent and serve the interests of our nation.