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Given by Past President John Davis!
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KEY FACTORS FOR SUCCESS IN PUBLIC WORKS
APWA, FLORIDA CHAPTER EXPO 2014JULY 9, 2014
KEY FACTORS
“If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.”
– Anatole France, French poet (was he also a planner or an architect?)
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader has:
High Ethical Standards
• “Avoid even the appearance of evil.”– Bryan Henry, City Attorney
• Trust
“If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can
never regain their respect and esteem."– Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
“The income tax created more criminals than any other single act
of government.” – Barry Goldwater, US Senator (AZ)
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader has a:
High Degree of Loyalty“If you work for a man, in heaven's name work for him. If he pays you wages which supply you bread and butter, work for him; speak well of him; stand by him, and stand by the institution he represents. If put to a pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness. If you must vilify, condemn, and eternally disparage, resign your position, and when you are outside, damn to your heart's content, but as long as you are part of the institution do not condemn it. If you do that, you are loosening the tendrils that are holding you to the institution, and at the first high wind that comes along, you will be uprooted and blown away, and will probably never know the reason why.” – Elbert Hubbard
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is:
Technically Proficient
• Doesn’t have to be a PE
• Gains working knowledge of all assigned areas– Technical Conferences / Webinars– Publications / Magazines– Networking
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is an:
Innovator
“Don’t be the first to try something, but definitely don’t be the last.”
– Addison Marshall, PE, City Engineer
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is a:
Good Communicator (including Listening)
• Written and verbal
• Written communications and public records law
• Is careful of context
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is a:
Skilled Project Portfolio Manager
• Manages multiple projects
• Streamlines / expedites projects– Overlap Project Phases– 3 P’s (Plans, Permits & Property)
• Makes sure contracts are specific and detailed
• Manages Risk
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is a:
Good Financial Manager
• Operating and Capital Budgets
• Detailed Cash Flows
• Debt Funding (bonds, short-term paper, internal loans)
• Additional revenue sources
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader:
Makes Satisficing Decisions
• Given enough resources (more money, more time, more information), a better decision can almost always be made
• An on-time 98% solution vs. late 100% solution
• “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader:
Develops Employees
• Professionally
• Personally
• Accepts the blame and re-directs the praise
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is:
Not Political
• Is Politically astute
• Offers politically acceptable options
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is:
Persistent
• “More than bravery, cunning and forces, persistence wins more battles.”
– Napoleon
• Knows when to withdraw and return another day
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is a:
Debtor to his Profession
• “I hold every man a debtor to his profession …from the which as men of course do seek to receive countenance and profit, so ought they of duty to endeavor themselves, by way of amends, to be a help and ornament thereunto.”– Sir Francis Bacon (English Lawyer, 1561 - 1626)
• “Gopher on top of a fence post”• Mentors• Active in professional societies
KEY FACTORSA Successful Public Works Leader is:
Other Factors (suggested by audience):• Engaged (MBWA); “Expect What You Inspect”• Fair• “Lead” vs. “Manage”• Open and Honest with employees• Clearly identifies expectations • Provides timely performance feed-back
KEY FACTORS
• “The least productive people are the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.”
– Thomas Sowell
• “Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.”
– Peter Drucker
KEY FACTORS
THANK YOU!
John T. Davis, PE, PSM, PWLF
Director of Engineering Services
City of Denton, Texas
940-349-7135
