Wise Ways from Melissa

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting President Trump recently hosted his administration’s first state dinner with France’s President, Emmanuel Macron. France is the United States’s oldest ally. And as reported in the news, Trump and Macron appear to get along and like one another. In keeping with diplomatic protocol, Macron brought a gift, a Durmast oak sapling, a non-native oak …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting April, a month that brings cherry blossoms, rising temperatures, tourists, and of course, a check-in with the tax man! As a leader, do you commit taxation without representation? Do you expect your team members to perform without giving them appropriate rewards, feedback or direction? Are you the type of leader who is quick to …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting It’s the season of love, at least it’s supposed to be. No doubt you’re thinking, “this is work, Melissa – what’s love got to do with it?” Understandable reaction because this is a column that talks about leadership and communication in the work environment. However, let’s consider the different types of love and how …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting Whether you make New Year’s resolutions or make fun of people who make them, the new year is a reminder that there is a clean slate of months. This year, I encourage everyone to spend time each month on ways to improve yourself. From small changes to career changes, progress can happen in April …

Provided by Prince William County Schools (PWCS) Parents and students from across the county are invited to attend a workshop offering free assistance completing the FAFSA application. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Stonewall Jackson High School, 8820 Rixlew Lane in Manassas, from 6:00–8:00 p. m. in the downstairs computer lab. Assistance with the Free Application …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting Let’s talk about integrity. This wasn’t the topic I started to write about this month, but considering all that has transpired, it seemed timely and more than relevant. Over the past few weeks, we’ve watched various people in many careers stepping down or undergoing an ethics review. It even has a name, “the Weinstein …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting In less than a month, we’re going to enter into “the season”… the six weeks of eating, visiting, drinking, and “guilting” that is the period from the middle of November through to Christmas. Guilting? Making up your own words, Melissa? Well, yes. I call it guilting because there is so much guilt being thrown …

By Melissa Davies October…finally, a moment to breathe! The kids are back in school. Summer traffic on 95 and 66 has slightly eased as the tourists have left the region. If you work for the Federal Government, the turmoil of the fiscal year-end has finished; the performance management cycle has finished and started again, and finally life looks like it …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting As the calendar flips to September, employees and managers gear up for performance review season. Each industry seems to have its own mojo formula. If you’ve left the federal space and are now working for a government contractor, new rules and forms. If you are moving out of private industry into a non-profit organization, …

By Melissa Davies, Wise Ways Consulting It’s hot.  No, I really mean it – it’s HOT!  As in I went outside for a walk this morning before work and it was already that ‘stifling, sticky, and ugh, I wish I could go to the pool’ kind of hot! Yes the dog days of summer are upon us! We conjure up …