Betty Boyd

Betty Boyd was an acquisition manager, IT manager and project manager during her 30-year career in the federal government. Boyd is a certified as a Level III Contracting professional, and she has a master's level certificate in project management from the National Defense University.

Articles by Betty Boyd

• Resource allocation versus human resources

  Tuesday, November 21, 2017

  ​People are an organization's best asset, but how do we make sure we distribute the right resources needed to run a business? When we think of resources, we focus on capital improvements, equipment, security, salaries, etc., but we often overlook human resources. Making sure that employees are taken care of is probably the most critical element in human resource allocation.​

• Why these 4 soft skills are so important

  Thursday, August 24, 2017

  ​In today's current work environment, soft skills are losing to the role of technology. With smartphones, tablets and all forms of social media, soft skills can get lost in the shuffle.

• Learning never stops for leaders

  Wednesday, May 24, 2017

  Leaders who want to be successful cannot remain complacent — they must continue to grow through learning. Learning should be a lifelong pursuit for anyone, but it's especially crucial for leaders. The acquisition of knowledge is the best endorsement for showing others that it's OK not to know everything. The discovery of studying in a new area of expertise will give a person a boost in achieving their dreams.

• Failure is an option

  Thursday, April 06, 2017

  Failure is a difficult pill to swallow. People don't want to admit they have failed at anything. But failure can really be the start of something big and exciting — knowing you can restart after a disappointment. It's not the end of the world, but a true beginning.

• What exactly defines a team?

  Tuesday, February 21, 2017

  Do members of your team seem to be at odds with each other? Maybe it's time to examine what exactly makes a team. How can an organization best define its teams, while keeping its employees engaged and productive? A recent New York Times article explored that very subject by taking a look at how tech giant Google approached teamwork.

• Are you making an impact?

  Wednesday, January 25, 2017

  Do you sit in your cubicle hoping to get a promotion one day? Do you feel ignored, overwhelmed or just plain burned out? Maybe you're simply not making an impact. The impact you have in your organization will define how you are looked at — and whether you have a future there. It is not enough just to go in and punch a proverbial time clock to get ahead. There is more to life both in and out of the office. Both leaders and employees have an obligation not only to themselves, but also to those for whom they work.

• Making the hard choices in leadership

  Thursday, December 15, 2016

  Leadership is difficult, but you were chosen because you know how to get things done. However, there will be tough choices to make and these times will not be glamorous or liked. Here are some of those hard choices that all leaders will make.

• The seeds of true leadership growth are found in others

  Monday, October 24, 2016

  ​Leadership is difficult, and it should be. Thus, a leader is not made in a day, but undergoes a continuously evolving learning process. Often, one of the most important aspects to a leader's growth comes from others.

• The ripple effect of leadership

  Thursday, September 29, 2016

  ​Have you ever thrown a small pebble into a pond a noticed the ripples that emanate from the center? Or thrown a bigger stone and watched its effect? Leadership works in the same manner. What you say and how you act (or react) has a similar effect.

• Saying the right words as a leader

  Thursday, August 18, 2016

  Words are powerful tools, and what you say really matters. If you say something in the wrong way or the context is off, this can become a real problem in the workplace. This is even more critical for the company's decision-makers. Leaders should be held to a higher standard when communicating to their teams. Their words can make or break a person in their employ.

• How to remain curious as a leader

  Thursday, July 21, 2016

  What do you value most as a leader — your accomplishments, your goals or your title? Better yet, how curious are you as a leader? Curiosity is the cornerstone of wanting to grow, explore, investigate and is associated with all aspects of human development. People should never stop learning. We all have the capacity to be better today than yesterday.

• Can leaders and managers really work together?

  Thursday, June 30, 2016

  In today's workforce, both leaders and managers each have important roles to play in making sure work gets done. Leaders are the influencers who are there to help grow and inspire others. Managers are administrators that make sure that the organization is running smoothly. As Peter Drucker states, "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

• Taking a personal inventory

  Thursday, June 16, 2016

  From time to time, we all have to do a personal inventory. This can be a very hard concept for some, and is usually dreaded by all. But, there is a tool that businesses use in doing their own inventory: SWOT analysis. SWOT looks at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and can be used for personal improvement. Your personal inventory will give you an advantage over others, helping you determine and accomplish your goals — both in and out of the workplace.

• Recognizing your weaknesses is a real strength

  Thursday, May 26, 2016

  ​We are all flawed in one way or another. Most people choose to put an emphasis on their strengths in order to help them succeed. What about your weaknesses? In fact, it is even more essential to understand your weaknesses.

• How to make others feel powerful

  Friday, May 06, 2016

  Power is a two-way street. Power can be used for or against a person or an organization. As a leader, how do you use the power you have in your organization? Do you strive to help others reach their potential? Being a leader can give you the feeling of being powerful. But leadership should be more than simply showing how powerful you are — as I discovered years ago with my first taste of power.

• Reducing conflict in the workplace

  Monday, April 25, 2016

  Disagreements are an inevitable part of the working environment. If they go unresolved, they can disrupt and cause irreparable damage to the organization. A recent report by Business Management Daily entitled "​Workplace Conflict Resolution" describes the best practices on resolving conflict resolution in the workplace. This article will highlight some the more important practices this report espouses.

• Leaders should not short-change their professional development

  Thursday, April 14, 2016

  ​Leadership is both difficult and rewarding at the same time. Great leaders are always on the lookout for opportunities for their teams. But what about for themselves? As an influencer, you should be thinking about your own professional development.

• Creating effective teams helps an organization stay on top

  Thursday, April 07, 2016

  People are the heart of any organization, yet leading a team of employees is often referred to as "herding cats." The task can be both challenging and rewarding. So what is the best approach to creating effective teams and team members?

• How to handle workplace stress

  Friday, March 11, 2016

  Stress is a big battle for all of us in today's world — both in and out of the office. If you do not control stress, it can cause all kinds of issues. A study by Health Advocate, Inc., entitled "​Stress in the Workplace: Meeting the Challenge," indicates "the incidence of reported stress among employees in recent years and its impact on the bottom line has made the management of stress an urgent business strategy for American companies."

• You have to think like a leader to become one

  Thursday, February 25, 2016

  Leadership is a process. You don't just wake up one day become a leader. So how can you begin the process of being a leader if you are not yet one? There is no one right or wrong way, but there are steps that can help you gain control by thinking like a leader.

• The role of the middle manager

  Monday, February 08, 2016

  Middle managers are the mainstay of an organization and are the glue that binds an organization together. However, middle managers are often overlooked when there are promotions within a company. So how can the middle manager be supportive, and still get ahead in this competitive environment? The middle manager has to be creative.

• Setting SMART goals for 2016

  Thursday, January 21, 2016

  The beginning of a new year is when most of us review where we have been and where we want to go. This type of review is important for you personally and professionally. However, goals should not only be done once a year but throughout the year. There are many ways to accomplish this, and one of the best is setting SMART goals.

• Does gender really play a role in leadership?

  Tuesday, January 05, 2016

  We all know there are inherent differences between the male and female genders. As it turns out, these differences apply to leadership styles in the workplace as well. In 2008, the Pew Research Center surveyed 2,250 individuals for their report, "A Paradox in Public Attitudes: Men or Women: Who's a Better Leader." While the majority of those surveyed (69 percent) said men and women make equally good leaders, differences showed up in character attributes.

• Keeping good talent starts with proper onboarding

  Wednesday, December 09, 2015

  ​What do leaders dread the most? Hiring new talent. Whether from an existing pool within the organization or having to go outside, finding the right talent mix is a daunting task for leaders at all levels.

• Confidence and trust: Necessary ingredients in effective leadership

  Tuesday, December 01, 2015

  Confidence can be an elusive factor for leaders — having either too much or too little confidence is not good. The true test of leadership is finding the right balance. Along with confidence comes the trust factor. Trust and confidence go hand in hand in the leadership mix.

• Why people skills are so essential in leadership

  Wednesday, November 11, 2015

  Collaboration and relationship building are critical elements in the leadership arena. So, why is it so hard to develop relationships within an organization? Since people are the most important asset within an organization, it would make sense that people skills would be as well. However, some leaders shy away from doing the work necessary to become more proficient in their people skills.

• The pros and cons of promotions for women leaders

  Thursday, October 29, 2015

  ​Getting a promotion is one of the unheralded rewards in the ladder of success. A recent Harvard Business School study found that women have a different view on promotions than men. This study indicated that women are more likely to anticipate negative outcomes in obtaining success in the workplace.

• 4 problem areas when setting goals

  Tuesday, October 13, 2015

  ​Goal setting is the foundation of good planning. Goals help an organization come to terms with what is relevant. But too often, once goals are identified, the process stops before they are implemented.

• What leaders can learn from their mistakes

  Friday, October 02, 2015

  ​Did you ever make a mistake, then hide the fact that one was made? Leaders often insulate themselves from others when they do not want admit to a mistake. In fact, many leaders do not want to learn from their own mistakes. Ultimately, this problem will crescendo out of control, and the leader may never recover from his or her mistakes.

• 4 tips on giving better feedback to your employees

  Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Do you ever wonder how you are doing each day in your current job? Do you only get an annual performance review and wish it were more frequent? Employee feedback is one of the hardest areas a leader must deal with. Each employee has his or her own personality, quirks and performance. And each may respond differently to both positive and negative feedback.

• 4 tips on doing more with less in the workplace

  Tuesday, August 25, 2015

  In the era of tighter budgets and fewer employees, leaders must make difficult decisions to get the job done. These decisions matter, and they will affect each member of the organization differently.

• 5 tips for cross-boundary collaboration in the workplace

  Thursday, August 13, 2015

  What is the one thing most needed in the workplace? Collaboration. It is not just collaboration within your own team, but also — often more importantly — cross-boundary collaboration across the organization.

• 7 habits for accountability at all levels within an organization

  Friday, July 31, 2015

  ​Why is accountability lacking in today's organizations? Is it often due to a lack of engagement, culture or trust. These and other issues can affect accountability at all levels within an organization. In his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey suggests moving through the habits.

• Key strategies for engaging millennials in the workplace

  Monday, July 20, 2015

  ​Millennials are our future in the workplace. According to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Research Center, millennials are the fastest growing generation the workplace today. This group of adults ranging in ages from 18 to 35 in 2015 has surpassed Generation X in the workforce.

• An attitude of gratitude in the workplace

  Wednesday, June 24, 2015

  How often do you get a thank you from anyone in your organization? Is it once a week, a month or a year? A study conducted by the John Templeton Foundation discovered that the workplace is the least likely place that someone would get a "thank you." In fact, according to the Templeton survey, 60 percent indicated "they either never expressed gratitude at work or do so perhaps once a year." So how can an organization overcome this trend and up the percentages?

• 4 keys to transparent leadership

  Wednesday, June 17, 2015

  Leadership is not a one-way street. Leader should not hide out in their offices and expect an organization to run itself. Leadership is about constant difficulties, growing pains, helping others and being results-driven. Through all of this, it's important that a leader maintains transparency.

• How does a leader learn from failure?

  Wednesday, May 27, 2015

  "​Failure is not an option." We've all heard this famous quote, which originated with the Apollo 13 space mission. When lives were at stake with a failed trip to the moon and a damaged spacecraft in 1970, the words rang true for those at NASA. However, when it comes to the business world, failure is really an option. In fact, learning from failure is sometimes the best option. Too many times, though, leaders run the other way because of a fear of failure.

• How to surround yourself with the right talent

  Monday, May 18, 2015

  Maintaining the level of talent in an organization is a continuous battle. How do you keep and attract the right kind of talent? Surrounding yourself with talented employees takes commitment, understanding and time. No organization can grow without stepping up and being aware of what potential is available. Look around and see what is already right in front of you.

• Does maturity really matter in leadership?

  Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  ​Maturity is usually relegated to those individuals who are considered wise and sage. Maturity does not always mean you are of a certain age. Most people view someone that not only is mature but also has a position.

• Mentoring and leading go hand in hand

  Friday, April 17, 2015

  Leadership is an opportunity to give back, and mentoring is the best way to build future leaders. Mentoring allows leaders to pass on their knowledge, which benefits both those being mentored and the organization.

• 4 effective ways to combat laissez-faire leadership

  Monday, March 30, 2015

  ​Leadership is a great responsibility, and one that should not be taken lightly. However, there are people within organizations who are leaders in title only. Here are four ways an organization can combat this type of "leadership."

• 4 tips on how to grow leaders within an organization

  Friday, March 20, 2015

  Growing leaders within an organization is a great opportunity, but leadership is not developed overnight. It takes a long, steady process of coaching, mentoring and giving people a chance to excel. Current leaders must step up and mold the future of the organization.

• Leadership is more than coaching

  Tuesday, March 03, 2015

  ​Leadership is and always will be an uphill battle. When leading, how do you make a real difference in people's lives? Leadership is more than coaching; it is more like being a teacher. Teaching is a lifelong pursuit, and leadership should be the same.

• How to make the accomplishments of young people count

  Friday, February 13, 2015

  Developing the leaders of the future can be a difficult task, especially as young people enter the labor force. In today's environment, we need to figure out how to make a young person's accomplishments count when they are working alongside older leadership.

• The comfort zone is really the danger zone

  Tuesday, February 03, 2015

  A leader doesn't just wake up one day and become one. Leaders must work on and practice being a leader. Quite simply, that means leading. However, in time leaders can become complacent in how they lead. These types of leaders end up in their own comfort zone, and this is really a danger zone.

• 5 key attributes of effective leaders

  Thursday, January 22, 2015

  Do you have what it takes to be a leader? Not everyone can or should be a leader. It takes a lot of extra work and stress — everyone is looking to you for every important decision. So what does it take to be an effective leader? Here are five key attributes.

• 5 simple steps to better leadership in the New Year

  Friday, January 09, 2015

  We all make New Year resolutions in our personal life, but what about our professional life? Do leaders need to make resolutions? Being a leader should not necessarily entail resolutions, but rather establishing goals. So how does a leader come up with these goals?

• 5 tips for influential leadership

  Wednesday, January 07, 2015

  How influential are the leaders in your organization? Do they truly work together with the workforce for the success of the organization? Influential leaders help people to grow, have inner character and work together with others for a better running organization.

• 6 steps to patient leadership

  Friday, December 05, 2014

  ​Leadership is many things to many people, but is patience one of those attributes? How does a leader in an organization show patience to its workforce? Here are six steps toward being a more patient leader.

• How do leaders select the best talent?

  Monday, November 17, 2014

  ​One of the fundamental issues a leader must face is hiring the right people for the organization. This sometimes can seem like an insurmountable task. So how do leaders select the best talent? Here are five key components to building an effective team.

• Taking the right steps to build your IT project team

  Friday, November 07, 2014

  ​One of the most important aspects a project manager faces is finding the right people that are required for each project. People are the most important asset to an organization. Human resource management, especially in IT, is challenging. In fact, well-qualified people are both difficult to find and keep.

• 6 key traits leaders need to manage through a crisis

  Wednesday, October 29, 2014

  ​Does there always seem to be a crisis in your organization? When there is, do your leaders have a duck-and-run mentality? How leaders work through trouble is crucial for the success of any organization. Here are some key traits that are necessary for the management of crisis situations.

• The use of portfolio management in the IT department

  Thursday, October 16, 2014

  How does the use of portfolio management work in an IT environment? It all starts with the project management office (PMO) where all the projects are centralized and coordinated.

• How does a leader transform an organization?

  Wednesday, October 15, 2014

  It's a simple question with a not-so-simple answer: How does a leader transform an organization? According to researcher Bernard M. Bass, transformational leaders "garner trust, respect and admiration from their followers."

• The business side of IT in your organization

  Friday, October 03, 2014

  Have you ever considered the business side of IT in your organization? Most of the time, the IT portion of an organization's focus is only on the current technology available. While this is an important aspect, there are certain other areas that should be addressed.

• Transforming from a reluctant leader into a smart leader

  Thursday, September 25, 2014

  ​Leaders are role models to the workforce. Have you ever had a leader who could never make a decision no matter how much information was at his disposal? Did you ever know a leader who took too long in her decision-making process?

• Why BYOD policies are crucial for the workplace

  Monday, September 22, 2014

  ​Bringing your own device (BYOD) to the workplace has been around for several years, and will not be going away anytime soon. In fact, it is a growing concern for both the public and private business sectors. How does an organization handle BYOD in the workplace?

• The ‘full’ keys to leadership

  Friday, September 05, 2014

  What is a leader's purpose? Does he or she sit in their office and let the team or organization run itself? What must a leader do to be fully engaged in being a leader? It starts with attitude. John Maxwell states, "...the attitude of a leader affects the atmosphere of the office." It is how you handle yourself and a situation.

• How project management helps make IT projects successful

  Thursday, August 28, 2014

  For an organization to have successful IT projects, it should embrace modern project management techniques. This is where the IT project manager comes into play. Project managers have a specific role to help the team have a successful IT project.

• Both leadership and management are the foundations of success

  Thursday, August 21, 2014

  ​Just as a building needs a foundation, so too does an organization. In this fast-paced world of business, the organization's success or failure hinges upon how both leadership and management work together. The concepts of leadership and management are not new, but too frequently are interchanged.

• Why governance is crucial in the IT department

  Friday, August 15, 2014

  ​In today's ever-changing world of technology, how do you approach the implementation of policies and procedures and make them fit into the IT structure in an organization? The answer is governance.