The CGE Leadership Summit: A Visual Story - Canadian Government Executive
CGE Blog
February 28, 2014

The CGE Leadership Summit: A Visual Story

StageIt’s early morning, and the stage is set. Our panelists will soon be arriving, along with the recipients of our CGE Leadership Awards.

LevonianLouise Levonian, ADM of Finance and chair of the Sub-Committee on Public Service Engagement, talks about how constant change in the public sector is the new normal.

TreuschAndrew Treusch, Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency, says that change can’t be stopped, and it’s up to leaders to decide if they want to take charge or be left behind.

LeahyKevin Leahy, Chair of the National Managers’ Community, talks about how Blueprint 2020 will modernize what managers do, and how they do it.

Panel1
Karen Ellis, President of the Federal Economic Agency for Southern Ontario, and Levonian look on as Andrew Treusch addresses the crowd.

Questions
An audience member asks the panelists a question.

Ulrich
Dr. David Ulrich, a professor with the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, talks about how the public service needs to foster a culture of constant change.

IBMIBM’s Catherine Reese talks about how analytics can help leaders in their organizations.

WatsonWhy is it so important for the public service to grow its own talent? Daniel Watson, Chief Human Resource Officer, says it’s because Canadians turn to the public service instinctively when problems need to be solved.

Awards
The CGE Leadership Awards were handed out to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Canada Health Infoway, New Brunswick’s Performance Excellence Process, GCSurplus at Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency’s Red Tape Reduction initiative, the Ontario Land and Resources I&IT Cluster’s Modernization of Approvals Platform, and Health Canada’s First Nations Health Authority.

Molinaro
After lunch, Vince Molinaro spoke about “The Leadership Contract.”

Panel2
Jodi LeBlanc, Values and Ethics Advisor for Veterans Affairs Canada, Jean-René Halde, CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Janice Baker, CAO for the City of Mississauga, participate in a panel moderated by Molinaro on the topic of the future of the public service.

Amy Allen
Amy Allen is a staff writer with Canadian Government Executive magazine. You can connect with her at amya@netgov.ca.

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The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) collected $419 billion in taxes and duties in 2011-2012. It has over 39,000 employees working across Canada and is probably one of the more thankless departments to work for in any government. “Nothing is certain but death and taxes,” goes the popular expression, repeated at dinner tables and bus stops...
 
Weekly Roundup – January 31
On January 31, 2014
It’s the last day of January! Our summit is less than a month away. We’ve had some interesting stories about Blueprint 2020 – which is the theme of our summit – this week. If you’ve missed any of them, look no further; we have them all here. How is the Blueprint 2020 process different from past initiatives that had the same outcome in mind? Ken Rasmussen, professor of public administration at the...
 
The (Dis)assembly Line: Lessons From the Past on Collaborative Productivity
On January 29, 2014
I recently read Matt Charlet’s blog post(1) in which he writes that collaborative productivity is increasingly important. Charlet explains that “ten years ago, 78 percent of an employee’s impact on functional or business unit performance came from their individual task performance and only 22 percent came from network performance. Today, the breakdown is 51 percent...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Dr. David Ulrich
On January 28, 2014
Canadian Government Executive is pleased to have Dr. David Ulrich, one of the world’s most distinguished management thought leaders, as the keynote speaker at our Leadership Summit on February 25. Dr. Ulrich, a Professor at the University of Michigan and a partner at the RBL Group, will be discussing The Leadership Code and what leaders...
 
C4ISR and Beyond: CGE’s Sister Summit Success
On January 27, 2014
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and defence industry gathered at the Ottawa Convention Centre for Vanguard magazine’s first C4ISR summit – C4ISR being the defence industry’s acronym for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The summit was intended to encourage meaningful dialogue within the larger C4ISR community, from...
 
21st-Century Public Servant Skills
On January 22, 2014
The complexities of the 21st century are creating a “transformational storm,” and public administration is caught in the eye. This storm is shaking up public service organizations across the globe as senior managers begin to realize that the challenges of today require radically different skill sets than those that were traditionally celebrated. In today’s climate...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Karen Ellis
On January 20, 2014
What can often make or break one’s ability to lead in times of change can boil down to a manager’s situational awareness, and his or her ability to adapt to that situation can make all the difference. Karen Ellis is the president of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. She says learning to...
 
Weekly Roundup – Jan. 17
On January 17, 2014
It’s week’s end already! Did you miss any of our content this week? We’ve had a few stories either from or about some of our summit speakers, so have a glance down our handy list to see what piques your interest. Louise Levonian, associate deputy minister at the Department of Finance, talks about why a...
 
Know What You Don’t Know – Then Find Out
On January 15, 2014
Let’s imagine for a moment. You’ve flown to England and joined a professional cricket match. You’re not watching the game, though – you’re a player! You’re a member of the Kent Spitfires, and you’re the bowler. You tried cricket once or twice a few decades ago, but haven’t played since. The other players are all...
 
Weekly Roundup – Jan. 10th
On January 10, 2014
We hope everyone had a great holiday and a happy New Year! We’ve been busy this week. If you missed any of our content, look no further. We have it all here! Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe talks to David Ulrich, author of “The Leadership Code”, about his thoughts on leadership . If you want more from David Ulrich, he will...
 
Communication and Networking: The Human Element
On January 9, 2014
In an era where everything we do seems to be moving virtually, this is an opportune time for us to get back to the basics and look for ways to enhance our face-to-face communication and networking skills. Many experts fear that we are losing our ability to have the traditional face-to-face conversations that are essential...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Jean-René Halde
On January 8, 2014
To close CGE’s 2014 Leadership Summit, a panel of speakers will sit down and discuss how to put into action the ideas discussed by other speakers and attendees during the event on February 25. The audience will learn from respected government and private leaders how to effect positive change when they return to their respective...
 
From Open Data to Open Government
On January 7, 2014
During 2013, Canadian governments at all levels were continuing to join the Open Data movement.  As reported on the www.data.gc.ca site, maintained by the Government of Canada, there are now four provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec) and 38 Canadian municipalities with Open Data portals.  (This site provides links to a number of other provincial...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Louise Levonian
On December 30, 2013
The question confronting the Canadian public service today isn’t whether it’s possible for the service to be exceptional without solid leadership, but what type of leadership is necessary to maintain, or even recapture, this status? “Leaders of the public service will need to set the tone and guide by example,” said Louise Levonian, Associate Deputy...
 
Weekly Roundup – Dec. 27th
On December 27, 2013
We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday! We’ve rounded up all our news from the past two weeks for you. Never lost in transit: Roch Huppé, CFO at Finance and Administration, talks about CRA’s award-winning mail solution . How is the Penticton Indian Band working toward self-sustainability? Chief Jonathan Kruger spoke with editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe . Our intern Jeff Mackey wrote up a profile on Janice Baker , one of the speakers...
 
Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear, Pt. 2
On December 24, 2013
Happy holidays, everyone. This blog will be the next installation in our journey through the web archive. This month, I decided to look at the Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada, of which the 20th was recently published. The reports stem from Public Service 2000: The Renewal of the...
 
A Breath of Fresh Air
On December 18, 2013
I believe that the most important things in life should be able to exist without me. I just returned from vacation. I was totally disconnected, including four days with no access to anything digital (hard to do when you are on a boat off the coast of Thailand). I didn’t think about work, wasn’t concerned...
 
Former Attorney General proposed as head of accounting oversight body
On December 17, 2013
The province of Ontario has proposed a new chair to lead the Public Accountant’s Council. Former Attorney General Michael Bryant will replace second term chair John Crow for the position. The appointment to the council, which regulates the province’s public accountants, is subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. Bryant currently works...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Janice Baker
On December 16, 2013
Janice Baker, city manager and chief administrative officer with the City of Mississauga, believes the leadership provided by elected municipal officials is vital to the day-to-day well being of a community. “Having strong leadership provides a vision for the future and ensures accountability for the actions of today,” said Baker, who has 26 years of...
 
Twitter Best Practices for Govvys
On December 11, 2013
Last week Twitter, released its “Best Practices for Government” and it got me thinking about my experiences with using Twitter as a govvy (government employee). I was hesitant about Twitter when I first signed up almost five years ago, hence the reason I didn’t use my full name (first name and birthdate = @jodilynne3), as...
 
Nova Scotia Moves to Unify its Government Communications
On December 10, 2013
In this busy communications marketplace, governments are taking the way they get their message out increasingly seriously so that they can reach citizens. The Nova Scotia government will be introducing legislative amendments, new guidelines and policies in its Public Service Act to unify its communications under Communications Nova Scotia (CNS). The changes were introduced on December 2 and the government believes...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Michael Graydon
On December 10, 2013
Executives today live and work in a fish bowl. They conduct their business independently while the rest of the world sees them from a magnified and 360 degree angle. Being an effective leader under this scrutiny can be difficult but Michael Graydon, CEO of British Columbia’s Lottery Corporation, thinks building trust through one’s character is...
 
Taking an Inward Approach to HR Management
On December 5, 2013
It’s Time for Talent Management The public service landscape has changed dramatically since the launch of a recent series of budget reviews, starting with Strategic Review back in 2011.  Since then, organizations have undergone Strategic and Operating Review, the Deficit Reduction Action Plan, and, more recently, Targeted Review for a select few “chosen ones.” The...
 
New Public Management… the New Latin?
On December 3, 2013
For many, Latin was one of those subjects that you had to take in school.  We were told that it was good to know the roots of modern languages.  Sceptics argued that Latin is a ‘dead language’ – no longer in common parlance, used only in certain religious and scholarly circles.  What we came to...
 
Manitoba recognizes health care innovation
On December 3, 2013
Innovation is a big deal when it comes to service delivery. Public servants are increasingly being asked to do more with less – so it lifts the spirits to see so many departments and agencies coming up with new ways to deliver service. And it’s even better when they get recognized for their work. Last...
 
The Inevitability of Change
On December 3, 2013
I’ve asked ‘Is Change a Good Thing?’ and what we can do about ‘Transition Stress and Innovation’ . I’m starting to realize that change, particularly in the public service, isn’t that unusual. The narrative within government is one of stability – people view their jobs as (generally) static, their organizations as slow-to-change, and their work lives generally similar from day-to-day and year-to-year. This stability,...
 
Summit Speaker Profile: Kevin Leahy
On December 2, 2013
Kevin Leahy is looking to get the voices of Canada’s middle managers heard. Leahy will be featured in the opening panel on Key Leadership Challenges in the Public Sector at the Canadian Government Executive Leadership Summit on February 25. As chair of the National Managers’ Community, Leahy is looking to bring the perspective of the...
 
The Headache of Online Services
On December 2, 2013
A few weeks ago, Roy Wiseman blogged about how, despite the best efforts of many governments, and although an online option may be available to them, people are still standing in line to receive their government services. “Instead of hiding, let’s proudly promote ‘modern government’,” he wrote, “taking full advantage of the cost-saving opportunities (and...
 
Weekly Roundup – Nov. 29th
On November 29, 2013
It’s the last week of November! We hope everyone’s been bundling up warm! We’ve had a lot of content this week, so we drew up this handy list for you in case you missed anything. It’s perfect for evenings huddled by the fireplace. In September, John Wilkins wrote a piece – Does Blueprint 2020 hold Wouters? – that has since...
 
Manitoba Recognizes Nurse Practitioners
On November 29, 2013
We keep hearing about how governments don’t appreciate their employees, so it’s always nice to hear stories that go against this notion. Case in point: The government of Manitoba celebrated its first Nurse Practitioner Day last week . To commemorate the occasion, the ministers of health and of education and advanced learning announced that 30 newly funded nurse practitioner positions have been created...
 
Stretching the Stretch Assignment
On November 27, 2013
Note that while I work as a public servant, this is entirely my own initiative and what I post here does not necessarily reflect the view of the government, my office or my position therein. The stretch assignment is defined by Bersin by Deloitte as “a project or task given to employees which is beyond...
 
Weekly Roundup – Nov. 22nd
On November 22, 2013
Did you miss any of our content this week? Have no fear – we’ve got it all here. Who says it’s not easy being green? Representatives from five Canadian cities weigh in on what their municipalities have been doing for the environment. Green for good: Steve Glover, senior VP and head of Compugen Finance and the Green4Good program, talks about BC Hydro’s disposal of IT assets. Greening government’s grey fleet : Stacey Perlmutter, strategic sales manager, Canada, for Enterprise...
 
Mismanage With Me, Volume 2
On November 21, 2013
Confessions of a Public Service Manager In my first supervisory position, I inherited a clerk who had been with the organization a long time, and who had passed his best before date. Everyone knew this, and told me it had been this way for years. But when I pulled his personnel file, I saw only...
 
Canada Health Infoway Receives Project Management Award
On November 21, 2013
Canada Health Infoway has been awarded the Global Project Management Office of the Year Award (PMO), making it both the first Canadian organization as well as the first government funded recipient in the award’s history. The PMO, given by the Project Management Institute (PMI), recognizes one organization each year for its accountability to taxpayers. Infoway...
 
Transition Stress and Innovation
On November 20, 2013
I’ve written previously questioning whether change is such a good thing. Even significant positive changes – innovations – require a period of transition before they become the ‘new normal.’ Managing those transitions is key to ensuring lasting change, but it isn’t easy. One of the challenges of change management is that the leader’s change wave leaves...
 
A Partnership for French Services in Canada’s North
On November 19, 2013
The government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is looking to provide French services for the territory’s francophone community, and representatives from the Francophone Affairs Secretariat and the Fédération franco-ténoise (FFT) will be meeting with residents of four communities to talk to them about the government’s Strategic Plan on French Communications and Services. Although plans are...
 
Weekly Roundup – Nov. 15th
On November 15, 2013
Winter is coming! We hope you bundled up warm this week. You know what else goes well with winter and bundling up? A nice, hot coffee (or tea, or hot chocolate), a cozy armchair (or desk chair…), and a blog post dedicated to all the content we’ve put out this week. Jeffrey Roy, a professor...
 
A Partnership For Safer Schools
On November 14, 2013
We tend to talk a lot about partnership here at Canadian Government Executive. If you look at our website, you’ll find a panoply of stories on the topic – because we believe partnership is necessary to everything from sound decision-making to the provision of services. A story out of New Brunswick this week is a...
 
Zombie Apocalypse! (A Post-Halloween Blog)
On November 13, 2013
Zombie (noun): … person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less; a person whose behavior or responses are wooden, listless, or seemingly rote; automaton. Often wondered at the prevalence of zombie movies? They seem to be as pervasive as the living dead themselves. Not only are there the doomsday scenarios, hero-saves-the-world memes and...
 
The Importance of Open
On November 10, 2013
Over the years I have had the chance to reflect upon lessons from quite a few successful and unsuccessful projects.  One of the more significant things that I have been lucky enough to be involved with is helping to bring the Government of Canada GC2.0 Tools (GCPedia and GCConnex) to life in 2007.  Since then,...
 
Weekly Roundup – November 8th
On November 8, 2013
We’ve had a lot of interesting articles this week. Did you miss any of them? Don’t worry – we’ve got them all rounded up here for you: David Zussman talks about the challenge for Blueprint 2020. A Long Way Gone: John Wilkins blogs about Canada’s involvement in Commonwealth politics , and why we need to keep an eye on the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Roy...
 
Workplace Reinvention: Making an Impact
On November 7, 2013
Recently, I had the opportunity to virtually attend Impact 99 , an HR Summit held in Toronto. I’ve been to conferences before where I have been inspired afterwards, but this one was different. It really challenged the status quo and broke down the mental models. The speakers were engaging, the stories were powerful, the ideas were fresh,...
 
The Case for Modern Government
On November 5, 2013
In an October 16, 2013 article (“Service Ontario’s web failing to attract users”), the Toronto Star reported that even John Milloy, Government Services Minister (with responsibility for Service Ontario) didn’t know that he could review his vehicle sticker online.  As someone who also recently renewed my vehicle sticker, I’m not entirely surprised.  Although I was...
 
A Long Way Gone*
On November 4, 2013
Stephen Harper’s bullish foray into Commonwealth politics is a late entry in this long-running saga.  His boycotting of mid-November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo and his threat to rescale Canada’s £10 million in annual funding are attributed to Sri Lanka’s human rights record.  Canada may also be carrying a message on behalf of...
 
Weekly Roundup – November 1st
On November 1, 2013
Hello, all! We have a list of everything we’ve been talking about this week, just in case you missed something: Jodi LeBlanc talks about how the government can make smarter use of technology through Blueprint 2020. An excerpt from Tax is Not a Four-Letter Word , a new book edited by former Clerk Alex Himelfarb and his son Jordan. Ray Edwards, director general, Service and Program Excellence Directorate, for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, talks about an app people can use to access agricultural programs and services. Editor-in-chief...
 
Before I Am Eligible to Retire
On October 30, 2013
I was thinking the other day, while I sat in my French as a second language class, what will bilingualism look like in 20 years? You see, I have more than 20 years left before I am eligible for retirement. I quickly note that fact each year my pension statement arrives. I can already access...
 
Weekly Roundup – October 25th
On October 25, 2013
Happy Friday, everyone! Did you miss any of our content this week? If so, look no further; we’ve got it all listed here for you. Jeffrey Roy, a professor in the School of Public Administration at Dalhousie University, talked about how we can move from open data to open democracy . Soussan Tabari, CIO for Ontario’s learning ministries, discussed the modernization of student aid and the overhaul of OSAP . Elizabeth Denham, BC’s Information and...
 
Can. Food Inspection Agency: Harvesting a New HR Approach
On October 24, 2013
The passage of the Safe Food for Canadians Act in November 2012 set the stage for important changes to Canada’s food safety system. The Act will come into force at the beginning of 2015, and over the next two years the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will work with consumer groups and industry to develop new regulations to support the...
 
Is Change a Good Thing?
On October 23, 2013
Change seems to be everywhere in Canada’s federal public service lately. Everything from  performance management ,  disability management ,  sick leave , pensions , and more are under the microscope. An entire national conversation ( Blueprint 2020 ) circles around innovation and change. For some public servants,  recent changes were sudden, intense, and life-altering . For the rest of us we feel like pieces on a massive board game – sometimes...
 
Mel Cappe and the Changing Face of Policy Creation
On October 22, 2013
Mel Cappe, former Clerk of the Privy Council, was at the University of Ottawa on Monday to give a lecture on the supply and demand of ideas and how it can affect the policy-making process. The lecture, presented by the Public Policy Forum, was the first in a series that will take place at universities...
 
The Results Are In: Your Thoughts on Blueprint 2020
On October 18, 2013
Last month, we posted a poll on Canadian Government Executive that asked the question, “Do you think your input into Blueprint 2020 will make a difference?” Well, the results are in, and more than half of you – 51.5 percent – voted “No.” A little more than 30 percent of you voted “Yes”, and 18.4 percent of...
 
The Push for a Mobile Workforce
On October 17, 2013
The future of mobile was a huge topic of discussion at last week’s GTEC 2013. Scott Ball, country manager of Motion Computing, said that mobile devices can be hugely beneficial to emergency response and field workers in the public service. “Pen and paper is still our biggest competition,” he said. “But what you can’t do...
 
Evolving and Collaborating to Survive
On October 16, 2013
The giraffe is a funny-looking animal. It has a very long neck and huge eyes. To an observer who is used to different proportions and colours, the giraffe is a ridiculous-looking animal. But these traits give the giraffe two adaptations that public servants could learn from. Long necks allow giraffes to eat leaves off treetops,...
 
Weekly Roundup – October 11th
On October 11, 2013
The long Thanksgiving weekend is upon us! Before you go, make sure you haven’t missed any of our content this week: Marc Angers, a senior communications advisor for the government of New Brunswick, on New Brunswick’s new electronic library . Liseanne Forand, the president of Shared Services Canada, talks about how the project has progressed in the two years since its inception . Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe on why government must embrace the changes that technology will bring to the way we do our work  and says we have reason to celebrate despite the US government shutdown . Tom...
 
GTEC Distinction Awards: A Necessary Celebration
On October 9, 2013
On Monday night, we gathered at the Ottawa Convention Centre to watch GTEC give out its Distinction Awards in six categories to teams and individuals on the federal, provincial and municipal levels. People had come out dressed in their finest – tuxedos, little black dresses, and evening gowns – to celebrate the transformative work their...
 
For What It’s Worth
On October 3, 2013
In 2006, a new budget watchdog, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, was created under the Federal Accountability Act to improve the transparency and credibility of the Canadian Government’s fiscal forecasting and budget planning.  The mandate was to provide parliamentarians with independent information and advice on economic, fiscal, and budget issues. Kevin Page was appointed as the...
 
Taking Stock: A Collection of Your Transferable Skills and Experiences
On October 3, 2013
Five years ago I took a Career Pathways course that discussed the value of having a career portfolio. I had heard of portfolios before but always thought they were for artists and photographers – not for public servants. A portfolio is a living and changing collection of records that reflect our accomplishments, skills, experiences, and...
 
Canadian Governments Moving on Three Initiatives
On October 2, 2013
On returning from the Joint Councils meetings in Fort McMurray, I came away with the distinct impression that Canadian governments are moving forward collectively on a number of initiatives.  “Collectively” doesn’t mean that all governments are on board with each initiative or that they are all moving at the same pace.  But in each case,...
 
Weekly Roundup – September 27th
On September 27, 2013
It’s Friday! Here’s our roundup of everything we’ve been talking about this week: Patti Giberson and Alisa Neuman talk about policy in a POD : how has the government of Alberta been encouraging discussion of policy development? Lisanne Lacroix, CEO of APEX, talks about the impact of work on executive health . Why is it important for all of us that government executives stay healthy?...
 
Service Through Technology, Both New and Old
On September 26, 2013
As of last week, residents of Newfoundland and Labrador can order birth, marriage and death certificates online. Previously, residents who wished to order certificates could only do so in person, by fax, or by snail mail. Newfoundland and Labrador is the third Atlantic province to make this service available online, and the eighth in the...
 
Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
On September 25, 2013
Hello all. This post will be the first of a recurring series. I searched the Government of Canada web archive for interesting articles and papers. After providing some historical context and a quick summary, I will then ask the readers to consider if the ideas posed are still relevant. Also, are there new ideas to augment the findings? The first...
 
“The Power of Why” and the Government’s Blueprint 2020 Agenda
On September 24, 2013
Ms. Amanda Lang, CBC Senior Business Correspondent and co-host of its popular daily business journal “The Lang and O’Leary Report”, has been touting Canada’s lack of innovation and its negative impact on productivity for years now. Earlier in 2013, the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum concluded that Canada’s performance growth is at its lowest in...
 
Weekly Roundup – September 20th
On September 20, 2013
Is it Friday already? We’ve had a lot of content this week. If you’ve missed any of it, you can check the links below. Robert Thompson, former Clerk of the Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet in Newfoundland, talks about policy capacity and why it needs to be a leadership priority . In his blog post, Thom Kearney says it is necessary to believe in things like Blueprint 2020 – because only by believing can we...
 
Time Isn’t Always On Our Side
On September 20, 2013
An article in this week’s Harvard Business Review touts the importance of taking time to solve a problem . The authors contend that an in-depth analysis of a problem – and a greater amount of time spent in the “problem space” rather than the “solution space” – can encourage innovation and outside-the-box thinking. They suggest that when people race to find...
 
CPSQA Meeting: Why You Need an Execution Plan
On September 18, 2013
Today’s Canadian Public Sector Quality Association (CPSQA) meeting in Ottawa featured a workshop by Craig Szelestowski, president of Lean Agility, on building buy-in and execution in quality improvement projects. Szelestowski stressed the importance of three key elements needed to acquire results from an idea: quality of idea, desire or buy-in of necessary stakeholders, and ability...
 
Vampires Are Not Welcome at Work
On September 18, 2013
I’m either the best person, or the worst person, to talk about relationships at work. On the one hand, I have a robust professional network: a couple thousand managers, supervisors, and aspiring leaders across government connect with me regularly. I have a newsletter with 1,700 subscribers, and I routinely get calls for advice, information, and...
 
Colour Me Naive
On September 17, 2013
You know, I have been around long enough to know better, but still choose to believe in stuff like Blueprint 2020 , because change can’t happen unless we believe it can. Don’t get me wrong, I am no Pollyanna and healthy scepticism is, well, healthy, but seriously, the first step to making anything happen is believing that it...
 
Weekly Roundup – September 13th
On September 13, 2013
Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! We produced a lot of content this week, so if you missed any of it, have no fear. We’ve got them all listed here for you: Our columnist David Zussman talks about the need for Senate reform . Associate editor Chris Thatcher talks to Rear-Admiral Patrick Finn about the changing role of the Material Group at the Department of National Defence . Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe speaks with Deputy Minister Robert...
 
GTEC 2013 Distinction Awards
On September 13, 2013
Last night, we attended the welcoming reception for honourees of the GTEC Distinction Awards at the Ottawa Convention Centre. Three-hundred public servants attended; of those 300, 220 were honourees. A total of 39 teams and three individuals were chosen to receive an award. Corinne Charette, CIO, was there to deliver a speech congratulating everyone on...
 
The Full Potential of a Day
On September 11, 2013
September brings fresh starts and new beginnings, so it was very timely that I decided to take a vacation day to re-examine my goals and priorities.  I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed the past few weeks, as I had been juggling a lot between my day job, volunteer work and home life. So I first started...
 
It’s Okay to Fail – Really!
On September 10, 2013
It’s hard to admit when the things we’re doing aren’t going as well as planned. Most of us tend to take it personally, like the failure somehow reflects poorly on our worth as human beings. So we begin to fear failure, and we convince ourselves that the work is only worth doing if we can...
 
Weekly Roundup – September 6th
On September 6, 2013
It’s Friday already! If you’ve missed any of this week’s content on our site or blog, have no fear; we’ve rounded up all of our stories here for you. Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe blogs about the need for visionary leadership in the National Capital Commission. How can we make Ottawa great? John Wilkins, associate director with the Public Management program at York University’s Schulich School of Business, asks:...
 
The Power of Networks
On September 4, 2013
Just like mushrooms, networks are popping up everywhere; they proliferate after the rain, few offer true nutritional value, and some of them might be poisonous. We can now find networks of networks that try and help us network! Networks sprout up because there is an underlying assumption that they can solve most of our public...
 
NCC: We Need Leadership in the Nation’s Capital
On September 3, 2013
If you want to talk about leadership, ask yourself: where is it when it comes to our nation’s capital? This article got me thinking about visionaries, leadership and goals for our national capital…and the faded glory that was once the National Capital Commission. And this article added some more fuel to the fire: It’s Time to Renovate Our Capital . As the government...
 
Does Blueprint 2020 Hold Wouters?
On September 3, 2013
Clerk of the Privy Council Wayne Wouters advocates the need for “… a clear and shared vision of what Canada’s Public Service should become in the decades ahead.”  Dubbed Blueprint 2020, senior leaders developed and are marketing the vision of a revitalized, world-class public service through employee engagement and public consultation.  Cynics might ask if...
 
Quote of the Day – August 31st
On August 31, 2013
“Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Do you have a favourite quote you’d like to share?...
 
Weekly Roundup – August 30th
On August 30, 2013
Another week has drawn to a close! If you’ve missed any of our content, you need look no further. We have it all here: Associate editor Chris Thatcher promotes IBM Smart Cities Whitepapers – you can register for them on our website by clicking on this link . Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe talks about the need for governments to leverage their core competencies more effectively if they wish to remain competitive. Biologist...
 
Quote of the Day – August 30th
On August 30, 2013
“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also make use of our defects.” Alexis de Tocqueville Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Quote of the Day – August 29th
On August 29, 2013
“Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.” Earl Wilson Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Key Leadership Competencies and Tool Use
On August 28, 2013
Note that while I work as a public servant, this is entirely my own initiative and what I post here does not necessarily reflect the view of the government, my office or my position therein. Hello all. Welcome to my first monthly blog post with Canadian Government Executive . I will start off with a post on tools...
 
Quote of the Day – August 28th
On August 28, 2013
“Honesty is the key to a relationship. If you can fake that, you’re in.” Richard Jeni Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Quote of the Day – August 27th
On August 27, 2013
“The problem with people with no vices is that, generally, you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” Elizabeth Taylor Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
You’ve Made a Mistake. Now What?
On August 26, 2013
As human beings, it can often be difficult for us to acknowledge when we have made a mistake. We would rather save face and maintain the illusion that we’re right than salvage a situation that is swiftly turning catastrophic. Such mistakes may not have severe ramifications in our personal lives, but in our professional lives,...
 
Quote of the Day – August 26th
On August 26, 2013
“Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure. It does mean you haven’t succeeded yet.” Robert Schuller Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Quote of the Day – August 25th
On August 25, 2013
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.” Albert Einstein Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Quote of the Day – August 24th
On August 24, 2013
Make mistakes, but don’t overdo it. “If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by a spectacular error.” J.K. Galbraith Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Weekly Roundup – August 23rd
On August 23, 2013
Did you miss any of our posts this week? No need to worry – we’ve got a list of them here! Editor-in-Chief Toby Fyfe blogs from IPAC 2013 about eliminating corruption in Quebec and rebuilding trust with the public. Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour talks about the roadmap for public safety communications. George Wenzel blogs about the difference between praise and feedback, and why the latter is preferable. Toy Fyfe talks about how Blueprint 2020 has raised our expectations for change. Staff writer Amy Allen outlines the benefits of working from home and talks about...
 
Quote of the Day – August 23rd
On August 23, 2013
“The person who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” Edward John Phelps, 1889 Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Quote of the Day — August 22nd
On August 22, 2013
“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts.” Nikki Giovanni Do you have any favourite quotes you’d like to share?...
 
Praise is Good, Feedback is Better
On August 21, 2013
I’d like to think that I do good work. Unfortunately, though, I also think most of it is crap. I’m my worst critic, and praising me doesn’t help much. Here’s what I hear: “Good George! Such a good boy! Keep up the great work!” This makes me feel like a puppy, not a professional. If...
 
IPAC 2013: Building Trust
On August 19, 2013
It’s an appropriate topic for the IPAC 2013 conference…rethinking public administration. Especially because of where it’s happening: in Montreal which – in a significant understatement – has been dealing with difficult public administration issues lately. Those ‘difficult issues’, of course, are being detailed by the Charbonneau Commission and speak to widespread corruption in the province,...
 
Weekly Roundup – August 16th
On August 16, 2013
Did you miss any of our posts this week? Don’t worry — we have a complete list here: Editor-in-chief Toby Fyfe blogs about the notion of the leader as chef d’orchestre , and the possibility that anyone can be an effective leader. Former public servant Tabatha Soltay blogs about boxes – how they constrain us, how we make them our own, and, ultimately, how she broke free of hers. Toby Fyfe on the idea of the research unit, and how it can help city councils make responsible decisions about municipal growth. Andrea Charron,...
 
The Atlas of Public Management
On August 15, 2013
There is an unfortunate divide between academics and practitioners in the public management field. Academics often view practitioners as myopic and slavish to narrow and immediate political pressures. Practitioners often see academics as dreamy theorists who have no grasp of management realities. There are lots of exceptions to this of course – practitioners who have...
 
Quote of the Day – August 15th
On August 15, 2013
“As she frequently remarked when she made any mistake, it would all be the same a hundred years from now.” Charles Dickens, 1839 Do you have a favourite quote you’d like to share with us?...
 
Quote of the Day – August 14th
On August 14, 2013
“But as to this retirement business, let me give a word of advice to all of you young people around fifty. Some of you have been talking of it and even looking forward to it. Have nothing to do with it. Listen; it’s like this. Have you ever been out for a late autumn walk...
 
Living Within and Without Our Boxes
On August 13, 2013
I used to joke that boxes are for storing stuff, not people. During my nine years as a public servant, I permitted the box to define me. I saw the walls of my box closing in around me. I became my box and accepted that it could tell me what I could be.  I had...
 
Quote of the Day – August 13th
On August 13, 2013
“All this progress is marvelous. Now if only it would stop.” Allan Lamport, mayor of Toronto, 1950 Do you have a favourite quote you’d like to share?...
 
The Chef D’Orchestre: Leadership Model of the Future
On August 12, 2013
What word is even more ubiquitous in government circles than “change”? I would argue that it’s “leadership.”  As governments move through change, including downsizing and retirements that are stripping away senior managerial experience, the task of preparing new executives for leadership positions is top of mind. In the old days, we thought leaders were born,...
 
Weekly Roundup – August 9th
On August 9, 2013
It’s been an exciting week! Our blog has only been live for three days, but the response to it has been overwhelming. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, knowledge, and writing talents to this project. As always, comments are welcome – this is your space and we want to hear what...
 
Quote of the Day – August 9th
On August 9, 2013
“True progress can come only as the result of thoughtful, continuous, co-operative effort. This progress will necessarily be slow, but it must be continuous. Nothing can hinder it more than the mistakes of thoughtless impatience.” Henry Wise Wood, president of the United Farmers of Alberta, 1919 Do you have a favourite quote you’d like to...
 
Quote of the Day – August 8th
On August 8, 2013
“I will make mistakes, but I hope it will be said of me when I give up the highest honour that you can confer on any man, as was said of another in public service: ‘He wasn’t always right; sometimes he was on the wrong side, but never on the side of wrong.’ That is...
 
Quote of the Day – August 7th
On August 7, 2013
“Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess which will itself need reforming.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1815 Do you have a favourite quote you’d like to share?...
 
Mismanage With Me
On August 7, 2013
He blew up the factory! Jack Welch, as CEO of General Electric for two decades, grew the company to be the biggest in the world (before Microsoft and Google) and was voted “CEO of the Century” by his peers in the year 2,000. But when he was 25 and a young engineer at GE, he...
 
Welcome to Our Blog
On August 7, 2013
Welcome to our new blog. You found us… Our blog has a simple purpose: to provide a forum so you can be part of a shared discussion on everything from the challenges you’re experiencing as a public servant to the issues facing a changing public sector. Our goal is also simple: that you will create,...
 
Skillset 2020: Reshaping Our Work
On August 7, 2013
Since the Clerk’s Blueprint 2020 launch in June, departments have been working full steam ahead on their employee engagement activities and action plans. Last week I had the opportunity to facilitate an employee consultation session with seven regional offices. The wealth of ideas, knowledge and insights from employees on how to evolve the public service of the...
 
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MindLab’s Culture Shift
On January 12, 2016
By: Patrice Dutil The MindLab meets every expectation you might have about a post-modern Danish institution that would dare sport such a title. Nestled on the ground floor of a rather non-descript building that contrasts cruelly with Copenhagen’s old stock exchange (the “Børsen”) across the street, the MindLab presents itself as a deep, white rectangle....