Learn with Us
Reimagining Federal Hiring: Key Changes in the 2025 Merit Hiring Plan
The federal hiring landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the release of the 2025 Merit Hiring Plan issued by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in response to Executive Order 14170: Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service. Most of the Plan’s strategies are not new to the federal…
Unlocking the Power of AI Through Workforce Fluency
The Case for Building AI Fluency When we talk about AI fluency, we aren’t just talking about the technical skills needed to use AI tools, we are also talking about knowing what AI can do, how to use it responsibly, and how to think critically about its outputs. AI fluency is the ability to understand,…
From Mandates to Momentum: A Human-Centered Approach for AI Adoption in Government
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a central part of how federal agencies operate. However, adopting AI is not just choosing the right tools, it is about making sure those tools fit the mission, the people, and the systems already in place. For AI to deliver meaningful value in government, it must be integrated in ways…
How to Develop the Leadership Skills You Need for 2025 and Beyond
It’s clear that the skills required to lead effectively are shifting. The rapidly evolving landscape, shaped by economic pressures, advances in artificial intelligence, hybrid work models, and more, calls for a different kind of leadership. Our first blog post in this two-part series, What Makes a Great Leader in 2025?, explored the traits that strong leaders…
Bridging the Gap: Rise 360 and the Future of Federal L&D
Federal agencies are facing a pivotal moment in workforce development where the need for agile, accessible, and self-directed learning has never been greater. As Amanda Palla and Tim Brown highlight in their ATD blog, “Reshaping Federal L&D to Meet the Moment,” federal agencies must rethink traditional training models and embrace tools that empower employees to…
Adapting in Action: Upskilling as a Strategic Response to Change
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, upskilling is not only a cornerstone of workforce development, but also a strategic approach for enhancing organizational effectiveness and driving workplace efficiency. Compared to traditional training methods designed to facilitate long-term employee growth through formal, structured programs and curriculum, upskilling reflects a shift toward addressing immediate skill gaps and shifting…
Learning That Sticks: Building Effective Experiential Learning
In line with workforce modernization initiatives and a renewed focus on adaptability, efficiency, and operational effectiveness, organizations are exploring innovative training approaches. Experiential learning, while not a new methodology, has recently been gaining traction as a key strategy to upskill staff in critical areas and build a more agile, collaborative workforce. This hands-on approach to…
Workforce Planning: How Many People Do We Really Need?
A strategic workforce planning model can help organizations answer this intangible question and right size their workforce while continuing to meet their missions. Workforce planning models are analytical management tools that use some combination of quantifiable factors (e.g., workload, complexity of work, budget, and performance data) to predict staffing requirements. In other words, they use…
Take it from the Experts: Revisiting Workforce Planning Best Practices
Workforce planning is always incredibly important, but even more so during periods of change. A few years ago, we connected with four of FMP’s seasoned workforce planning experts to learn why they think workforce planning is more critical. Now, more than ever, we thought it would be helpful to revisit their insights into where and…
Workforce Planning: A Chat with Lesley Perkins
This month, we’re diving into the wonderful world of workforce planning, which has long been a staple capability area at FMP. Lesley Perkins, one of FMP’s resident workforce planning gurus shares some thoughts on the basics of the process, how she first got involved with this work, considerations for organizations, and more. What is workforce…