Author Archive
Opinion
Don't take the national security contractor workforce for granted
As the government moves through the COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that government leaders make the right decisions and remember that contractors are an essential part of the solution.
Opinion
Can the shutdown lead to better government?
The partial government shutdown will end ... eventually ... and when it does there are concrete actions that can be taken to avoid the current debacle in the future.
Opinion
Not just a job: 7 tips for new grads with new jobs
John Hillen offers his best advice for new graduates starting new jobs but there also is something in here for all of us.
Opinion
How to lead a business through non-business challenges
As Google's CEO has learned, senior leaders often face challenges that require skills very different from the ones they learned in business school.
Opinion
Trump and the GovCon market
The first 100 days have passed and it certainly has been a period of great debate but how much can the president really impact the government contracting market?
Opinion
Turn Off Your TV: What I’ve learned teaching leadership during the 2016 presidential campaign season
If you want great examples of leadership, don't watch the presidential debates. Look around you and you'll see plenty of role models who are doing the right things for the right reasons.
Opinion
Are you a strategic thinker or just a planner?
As John Hillen explains, there is a difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning, and understanding the distinction can help executives push their companies toward a brighter future.
Opinion
Do you know who your most dangerous employee is?
Your most dangerous employee might not be the one you think of first. In fact, it might be a trusted and competent leader who hasn't kept up. Leadership expert John Hillen explains.
Leading change and the CEO's role as chief explaining officer
Leadership and government contracting expert John Hillen explains how leaders lead change and bring their organizations with them. Saying 'because I said so' just isn't an effective change management strategy.
Opinion
Why climate matters when you make a career transition
Too often the focus of a career transition is where the best pay or highest stature can be found, but former Sotera CEO and George Mason professor John Hillen has found that the better chances of success come when you focus on culture and mission.
Opinion
Why you need to know the source of your authority
Former Sotera CEO John Hillen continues to explore the nuances of leadership and management with a deeper dive into why people follow leaders and what George Washington and Atticus Finch can teach us about sources of authority.
Opinion
Leadership or management?
Former Sotera CEO John Hillen explores the key differences between leadership and management and why you need to be skilled at both to have a successful business and a career.
Is the GovCon market a 'real' market?
In the conclusion of his three-part series on the future of the government contracting market, John Hillen takes on the criticism that the GovCon market isn't a real market. With stats to back his arguments, he mounts a strong defense of a market that is large, diverse and competitive.
Opinion
