This document provides recommendations from three individuals - Kriste, Alex, and Kitty - on resources for professional development. Kriste recommends the books Fierce Conversations and Fierce Leadership by Susan Scott, as well as keeping a daily journal. Alex recommends What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and reflecting on quotes about goals, helping others, overcoming challenges, and taking responsibility for your own development. Kitty recommends books on leadership, imagination, confidence, and managing without authority, as well as the GovLoop mentoring program.

1. What is Your Next Move? Prep for SES or “Manager of One”?
In-Depth Discussion
Thursday, July 26, 2012
KRISTE’S TAKEAWAY RESOURCES LIST
Recommended Reading
• Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott
• Fierce Leadership, Susan Scott
Recommended Doing
• Daily Reflective Practice: As a 30-day experiment, start a daily journal. Find 5 minutes
to jot down your thoughts from the day. Stream-of-consciousness writing is OK; but if
you need more structure, start small and hand write the answers to the following
questions at the end of every day. Writing by hand is important; it’s a commitment to
personally articulate your own thoughts without the technology middleman.
o What gave me energy today, and how did that happen?
o Who did I energize today, and how did that happen?
o What does the best possible tomorrow look like?
• Tag Your Discomfort: For a few hours or days, consider carrying a hand tally to capture
the number of times you feel emotionally uncomfortable, otherwise known as “out of
your comfort zone”. This simple act of noting the discomfort coming up for you has
merit. At the end of the day, consider looking at the total count, and see if you can
recall how discomfort felt for you both physically (shortness of breath, racing pulse, etc.)
and emotionally, and what was happening in the environment when it came up. The
goal is not to shun or dispel discomfort, merely to get more in touch with it. Over time,
by quickly recognizing when it arises, you can more easily access the breakthrough
ideas it can induce, including moments of “personal evolution” such as an epiphany.
ALEX’S TAKEAWAY RESOURCES LIST
Recommended Reading
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall Goldsmith
• The Power of Persistence, Kristi Hedges
Recommended Reflection
• “Remember, it’s about more than you.” --Warren Christopher
• Life is a journey with many paths to take. Having a Goal to strive for, a Plan to follow,
and the Savviness to leverage resources (GPS) will make your journey an adventure.
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2. • If you are genuinely interested in what others have to say and what they have to offer,
they are typically more than happy to help you succeed.
• Life is full of challenges; learning how to effectively tell the story of how you overcame
those challenges will not only inspire others to succeed, but will also display your
reliance and resolve.
• Life is a game of probabilities; the more you try, the higher chances you have at
succeeding.
• At the end of the day you are the only person living your life. Do not leave your
development and life goals in the hands of someone else, not even your organization.
KITTY’S TAKEAWAY RESOURCES LIST
Recommended Reading
• How to Do Big Things, Chris Guillebeau
• The bullet points under “Leading From Your Level,” here
• The Athlete’s Way: The Neuroscience of Imagination, Christopher Bergland
• Feel More Confident And Powerful In 60 Seconds (Body Language), Kelly Studer
• How To Travel Outside Your Comfort Zone, Noll & Scott
• How to do an informational interview, Vick & Furlong, Chronicle of Higher Education
• Exercise Leadership Without Authority, Bob Behn
• Connections With Integrity, Reid Hoffman
Recommended Doing
• The GovLoop Mentors Program and your agency’s mentoring program
Recommended Reflection
• "Managing without authority causes leaders to focus on building commitment and
engagement, rather than settling for obedience and compliance." --Crucial Skills:
Managing Without Authority, http://www.crucialskills.com/2012/04/managing-without-
authority/.
• “Leadership used to be about directing; now it’s about crafting an environment where
people can learn and achieve. It’s more about influence than authority. Look at social
media, for example—it’s not about directing dialogue; it’s about persuading it.” --Ann
Pace, Training+Development, December 2011.
• “It is often said that ‘great leaders are great learners.’ I believe that. That requires a
commitment to lifelong learning. Let us all continue to do that.” --Thad W. Allen, in
“Confronting Complexity and Creating Unity of Effort: The Leadership Challenge for
Public Administrators.” Public Administration Review, May/June 2012.
For session slides and contact information, go here. Good luck!
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