Webinar: Writing Documents Under Pressure: Making It Easy

Chris Professional Development Program, Symposium

This article summarizes the content. (PDF) Webinar Workbook (PDF) The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires that government employees write public documents in a clear and well-organized manner. Under short deadlines, government employees need to be able to create documents that are correct, complete, and concise. During this session, the instructors will demonstrate techniques that will help employees draft documents … Read More

TOC Program Year Kickoff and Moving from Diversity and Inclusion to Equity and Belonging

Chris Professional Development Program

Watch the Recording (“Moving from Diversity and Inclusion to Equity and Belonging” begins at 28:02) Download the TOC 2020-21 Program Year slides. Download the Moving from Diversity and Inclusion to Equity and Belonging slides. Join us for the kick off the Training Officers Consortium 2020-2021 program year. In this two-part session the TOC Executive Board will reveal the plans for … Read More

Resilience: The Art of Failure, Recovery, and Success

Chris Professional Development Program

In an ever-changing, uncertain work environment, resilience is a must. Optimism, a positive attitude, emotional intelligence, and the ability to embrace failure positions managers and leaders for success. The impact on mind, body, and organization is not only important, it’s measurable. When managers are able to engage in accurate self-assessment and a clear analysis of potential decisions, they are poised … Read More

Talking to Decision Makers: What to Say and How to Say It

Chris Professional Development Program

Government employees, as protectors of the public health, are required to communicate effectively. Working under time constraints, they must present the relevant issues and challenges of a situation and the proposed next steps. They need to speak succinctly and support their conclusions with evidence, so their words will not be misinterpreted. During a high energy, interactive session, Nancy Singer, a … Read More

The Current State of Congress

Chris Professional Development Program

In this Professional Development Session, join Dr. Joshua Huder, Senior Fellow of the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, as he discusses Congress, the presidency, its effects on the Federal workforce and American politics in 2019 and what’s in store for 2020 and beyond. This session promises to very informative, engaging and top of mind for many Federal employees as … Read More

CLO Panel: The State of Federal Training

Chris Professional Development Program

A Chief Learning Officer (CLO) is the highest-ranking corporate officer in charge of learning management.  CLOs may be experts in corporate or personal training, with degrees in education, instructional design, business or similar fields. The TOC Professional Development Program on Tuesday, November 12, featured three Federal CLOs: Mark Kern, Federal Trade Commission Dustin Norwood, US Patent and Trade Office Suzannah … Read More

How to Transform Workforce Zombie’s into Engaged Employees

Chris Professional Development Program

Have you ever been, or have you seen, a zombie in the workforce? According to Gallup, approximately two-thirds of the US workforce is not engaged. Simply put, these employees are going through the motions. They are not inspired to bring their best to their jobs and often their lives. The impact on organizations is felt through lost productivity, increased turnover, … Read More

Illustrating Ideas: Simple Drawings with Big Meaning

Chris Professional Development Program

Illustrating Ideas: Simple Drawings with Big Meaning

In order to “light the torch” we need a spark! This session is designed to spark ideas through simple drawings. Many people say they can’t draw, claiming, “I can’t even draw a stick figure!” But drawing is a skill everyone can learn. Best of all, it’s a skill that integrates visual, motor, and semantic information which can help you: Explain … Read More

Not Enough Time, Too Much Technology, and No Real Relationships

Chris Professional Development Program

Have we thought much about time in the digital age? What about its impact on relationships? How about technology? Does tweeting, facebook, etc equate to face-to-face exchange? What about when you combine all three? Do they sum up to engagement? This engaging and dynamic session discusses the complex interplay of these dynamics on human behavior, trust, and compassion with practical … Read More