CORE COMPETENCIES and ATTRIBUTES CORE COMPETENCIES OF A

CORE COMPETENCIES and ATTRIBUTES

CORE COMPETENCIES OF A PUBLIC WORKS LEADER

Where did they come from? • APWA Leadership & Management Committee • APWA Membership Survey • Body of Knowledge Analysis

CORE COMPETENCIES • • • Plans for the Future Leads an Organization Communicates Builds Relationships and Partnerships Manages Staff Manages Information Manages Money and Resources Manages Infrastructure Manages Municipal Services

Plans For the Future • Strategic • Sustainable • Prepared “Planning is Bringing the Future into the Present so that you can do something about it now” Alen Lakein

Leads an Organization • Shared Values, Vision, Mission and Goals “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you. ” Steve Jobs

Communicates • Regularly • Persuasively • Listens “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere. ”

Builds Relationships and Partnerships • • • Citizens Elected Officials Peers Labor Organizations Media Shareholders “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ” Helen Keller

Manages Staff • • Recruitment & Selection Training & Coaching Conflict Resolution Respect and Value “Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers. ” Stephen Covey

Manages Information • Technology • Integrated systems • Work measurement “To manage a business well is to manage its future; and to manage the future is to manage information. ” Marion Harper

Manages Money and Resources • Understands Budgeting and Finance • Leverages Resources • Proactive vs. Reactive

Manages Infrastructure – – – – Fleet & Equipment Municipal Facilities Parks, Grounds & Forestry Potable Water Distribution Stormwater & Flood Management Streets, Sidewalks & Structures Wastewater Collection & Disposal Other Infrastructure

Manages Infrastructure • Principles of Asset Management • Correct action, time and place • Proactive vs. Reactive “Neglected maintenance turns into repair. Neglected repair turns into expensive rehabilitation. Neglected rehabilitation turns into incredibly expensive replacement. ” Lewis Mclain, Texas Municipal League

Manages Municipal Services • • Capital Improvement Programs Engineering Emergency Management Snow Removal Solid Waste Removal Street Cleaning Transportation Other Municipal Services

WHAT PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES ARE NEEDED?

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF A PUBLIC WORKS LEADER

Personal Attributes • • Possesses Integrity Is Accountable Is Decisive Is Public Service Oriented • Empowers Others • Is Deliberate • Is a Communicator • Shows Respect for Others • Is Technically Knowledgeable • Manages Resources • Is Resilient • Delegates • Maintains Balance

Possesses Integrity • • Committed to the task True to yourself Conscience Humble Ethical Honest Foundation for the other attributes

Is Accountable • • • Do the job you were hired to do Take responsibility for your actions Keep promises Be a role model Don’t focus on “what’s in it for me? ”

Is Decisive • • • Find a mentor for advice Start small Cost of evaluation vs. cost of risk Admit when you’re wrong Avoid Paralysis by Analysis “I wanna hear a guy say, ‘I made plans for us. ’ instead of the usual, ‘I dunno, whatever you wanna do I guess. ”

Is Public Service Oriented • Why do we do this? – – – Make a difference Improve quality of life Part of something bigger Solving problems Helping people The challenge

Empowers Others • Create environment of support & open communication • Be clear on limits of authority • Trust your employees • Give permission to fail • Encourage initiative • Define Expectations

Is Deliberate • Analyze risk 8 Seek input 8 Act quickly • A public works professional will: – – Listen to the problem Quickly absorb the data Consider the options Calmly make a decision • Decisions fit values, vision, mission and goals

Is a Communicator • Basic elements: Source, Message, Channel & Audience • Source: Prepare • Message: Clarity • Channel: Best method • Audience: Know your audience • Encourage Feedback

Shows Respect for Others • • Give respect to earn respect Make it a habit No one respects a bully Show respect through common courtesy: – Undivided attention – Be on time • Remember you are being watched

Is Technically Knowledgeable • Equipment, Materials, Methods • Finance, personnel, administration, politics • Attitude of Continuous learning • Know where to find the answer “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards”

Manages Resources • What needs to be Accomplished? – Mission, Vision, Values, Goals • Mangage Expectations – Define Success and Failure • Identify resources required – Do we have it? Where can we get it? • Measure Performance – Performance is not productivity

Is Resilient • Failure can be expected • Some coping mechanisms – – Humor Look at the “big picture” Remember your contribution Encourage your peers “Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce”

Delegates • You can’t do it all yourself • Delegation is an indication of trust

Maintains Balance • Work to live not live to work • You can’t do everything at once • MIA you cannot get the job done. • Make time for YOU “You Can’t do a good job if your job is all you do. ”

Need more information? • www. apwa. net • Leadership & Management Committee • APWA Reporter - Baker’s Dozen • APWA Bookstore – – Public Works Communication Manual Core Competencies for Public Works Managers Collective Excellence It’s Your Move