Sally Williamson

How to Find It, Keep It and Leverage It: Executive Presence

The Hidden Factor

Book about Leading Executive Conversations.

Be Confident. Be Compelling. Be Concise

Leading Executive Conversations

Thomas Johnson

David Hancock

Michael J. Courts 

Thomas Costa

Miriam Carroll Fenton

Esther Toledo

Mason Calhoun

Owen Starlin

Joshua Akery

J.P. Avila-Tournut

Jeffrey Baldwin-Bott

Amanda Bartine

John Bauckman

Aniruddha Dasgupta

In response to increasing threats to U.S. personnel and facilities at overseas diplomatic posts since 1998, the Department of State (State) has taken a number of steps to enhance its risk management and security efforts. State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (Diplomatic Security) leads many of these efforts with assistance from other bureaus and U.S. government agencies. Given the ongoing threats and the amount of resources needed to counter them, GAO has identified 11 key issues regarding Diplomatic Security that warrant significant Congressional oversight to monitor the cost, progress, and impact: Diplomatic Security Funding: Diplomatic Security funding has increased considerably in reaction to a number of security incidents overseas and domestically. In fiscal year 2016, total funding for Diplomatic Security operations--which includes its bureau managed funds as well as other funding such as personnel salaries--was almost $4.8 billion. Diplomatic Security Staffing Challenges: Diplomatic Security's workforce--including 3,488 direct-hire, 1,989 other U.S. government, and 45,870 contract personnel--continues to grow. However, potential challenges exist regarding the distribution of domestic and overseas positions, posting fully qualified individuals in the assignments with the greatest needs, and ongoing efforts to fill language-designated positions. Physical Security of U.S. Diplomatic Facilities: Diplomatic Security and the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations collaborate to meet safety standards when constructing new embassies and mitigating risks at existing facilities. However, GAO made recommendations to address gaps in State's security related activities and processes. Physical Security of Diplomatic Residences and Other Soft Targets: State has taken steps to address residential security vulnerabilities and manage risks at schools and other soft targets overseas. However, GAO recommended actions to address weaknesses in State's efforts. Security Training Compliance: While State has robust security training requirements, it lacks consistent monitoring and enforcement processes, particularly for its Foreign Affairs Counter Threat training and for security refresher briefings at posts. Embassy Crisis and Evacuation Preparedness: Gaps in State's implementation and monitoring of crisis and evacuation preparedness could endanger staff assigned to overseas posts and the family members accompanying them. GAO has recommended actions to address these issues. Department of Defense (DOD) Support to U.S. Diplomatic Missions: Following the Benghazi attacks, DOD increased its support to U.S. diplomatic missions by creating dedicated military forces to respond to crises and expanding the Marine Security Guard program at overseas missions. However, State and DOD reported that they have experienced some logistical and other challenges. Dissemination of Threat Information: State has processes for communicating threat information to post personnel and U.S. citizens in-country. However, post personnel--including locally employed staff--have not always received important information in a timely manner. GAO has recommended steps State needs to take to address this concern. Countering Human Intelligence Threats: Foreign intelligence entities from host nations and third parties are motivated to collect information on U.S. operations and intentions. State has established measures to counter the human intelligence threat and works with other U.S. government agencies to identify and assess this threat. Ensuring Information Security: GAO has designated federal information security as a government-wide high-risk area and made recommendations to address these issues. State faces evolving threats and challenges to maintaining obsolete technology, defining clear roles and responsibilities for information security, and overseeing technology contractors. Status of Recommendations Made in Reports following the Benghazi Attack: In response to the Benghazi attack, State formed interagency teams to evaluate the security at 19 dangerous posts, convened an Accountability Review Board (ARB) to investigate the attack, and established panels to conduct further assessments. As of June 2017, State reported having addressed recommendations as follows: 268 of 287 made by the interagency teams, 26 of 29 by the ARB, and 64 of 75 by the panels. Terrorist attacks against U.S. diplomats and personnel overseas have led to increased attention of State's diplomatic security efforts. In this special publication, GAO identifies key issues affecting Diplomatic Security for Congressional oversight. These issues were identified from a body of related GAO work and State and other reports. GAO also interviewed U.S. officials from State and other agencies to obtain their views on key issues, obtain updated information and data, and follow up on actions they have taken on past GAO and other oversight report recommendations. What GAO Recommends: While State has taken steps to close recommendations made in past GAO reports, GAO identified 27 open recommendations from these reports (as of August 2017) that it believes should be given high priority for implementation. Of the 27 priority recommendations, 24 were related to diplomatic security.

Diplomatic Security: Key Oversight Issues

"My Book of Poetry" was created and compiled by Sally G. Williamson. Sally has lovingly and patiently selected works of poetry from talented acquaintances, close friends and family. She has also added numerous poems from her own collection and a cute short story written by Chad Gray. You'll find yourself emotionally carried away by these poems. There'll be times that you are laughing so hard that your sides ache, and the next poem may bring tears to your eyes. But whatever emotion is stirred, this book will remain a treasure among your favorites. You might want to display it within handy reach of visiting friends and relatives, or on a favorite table or bookshelf. You'll find its heartwarming poetry and short story to be memorable. Even the cute book cover speaks of the down-to-earth content within. So I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy "My Book of Poetry" from cover to cover.

My Book of Poetry

The Essential Link Between Storylines and Storytellers

What They'll Remember and Repeat

From Competent to Compelling

The Leader's Journey

Within the qualities of effective leadership, lies the more elusive concept of executive presence. Some define it as an aura; others say it is swagger and the ability to command a room. Still others say it is authenticity and personal confidence. Most often, it is the deciding factor in top level promotions. The Hidden Factor defines what executive presence really is, how you get it and how it can be leveraged to define a leader better than any other quality being measured. Executive presence has always existed, but in recent years, it has resurfaced as a hot topic among C-Suite executives, succession planners and development officers. It is one of the top qualities evaluated in potential leaders and is often the missing component that limits promotion. Through surveys and in-depth interviews with over 400 executives, we validated a range of presence attributes and the impact of those attributes in corporate settings. The interviews offered access to top executives stories and their thoughts on presence across their careers. Their insights combined with our coaching expertise offer an in-depth look at the concept of presence and one s ability to use this Hidden Factor to get ahead in any organization.

How to Find It, Keep It and Leverage It

The Hidden Factor Executive Presence

Twisted Roads of Destiny is a compilation of short stories with imaginative characters trapped by circumstances that appear to be beyond their control. These stories might bring to question the role that destiny plays in your own life. Although there are no definitive answers to that question in this book, I hope you will enjoy the intrigue. The first two stories, ""Trapped in Eden" and "Wheels of Justice," are about ordinary people who become players in a world of crime. Some willingly played the game while others stood by helplessly ensnared by a powerful drug cartel, during which certain characteristics interestingly evolve as they deal with the circumstances around them. Other stories are about love and devotion and demonstrate how making decisions can sometimes change a person's destiny. Whether you believe in predestination, fate, or something else, I hope you will travel the Twisted Roads of Destiny at least one more time.

Twisted Roads of Destiny

River of Dreams

Sally Williamson

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