U S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership in Civil Rights Allen Masuda, FHWA Associate Administrator for Civil Rights Southern Transportation Civil Rights Executive Council Training Symposium Birmingham, Alabama August 18, 2009 1

Visionary Leadership U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary vs. Visionary Leader Visionary – One who articulates a vision of the future. Visionary leader – One who articulates a vision of the future and takes actions to bring about a transformation and the vision to reality. 2

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership Essential Qualities of a Visionary Leader • Leadership abilities • Strong sense of integrity • Fully commitment • Ability to create and articulate a clear vision 3

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Establishes achievable goals • Initiates action • Recruits others • Holds others accountable All work towards a higher purpose 4

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Is committed to a set of core values…standing for something…live his/her values • Exercises ethical/moral standards • Employs innovative strategies • Empowers others 5

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Has imagination • Is insightful • Is bold • Brings out the best in people 6

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Sees the big picture as well as the small details • Creates a common sense of purpose • Has a greater sense of purpose than self 7

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Serves for the good of the whole • Avoids adversarial tactics in addressing issues…good relationships • Is an innovative change agent… anticipates, proactive, focuses on opportunities and not problems…win-win outcomes 8

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Has a positive view of the future • Has a clear sense of direction of how to get there • Repeats the vision to bring it to life 1. Creates a sense of shared vision 2. Inspires people to do better 3. Moves them to a higher level. . . thinking and action 9

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Cares about people…greatest asset • Understands spiritual needs of his/her followers 1. Gets them involved in developing action strategies 2. Gives them hope in achieving the vision • Creates a learning and team environment 10

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • Is a good listener and learner • Thinks strategically 1. Crafts strategies that go beyond conventional thinking…“out-of-the-box” 2. Systematic 3. All encompassing 11

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader • When we work with a visionary leader, we strengthen our leadership abilities. • Each of us can be a more effective and visionary leader • Take the initiative • Accept challenges…accept criticism 12

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Visionary Leadership A Visionary Leader Comments – Questions? 13

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Enhancing Your Transportation Career Taking Control and Managing Your Career… Allen Masuda, FHWA Associate Administrator for Civil Rights Southern Transportation Civil Rights Executive Council Training Symposium Birmingham, Alabama August 20, 2009 14

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Develop a Plan with Multiple Career Paths • Establish Career Goals…Short, medium, and long-term • • 5, 10, 20 years? At retirement? Position? Grade? Location? 15

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Develop a Plan with Multiple Career Paths • Why am I working? • What difference do I want to make? • What do I want to accomplish? • When and how should I cross to another career track? Write it down. 16

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Establish a Career Advancement Team • Supervisors: first, second, and third-level • Mentors: select those who have had successful careers. • Peers • Share Your Career Plans – IDP • Others control resources, give you advice, or will be your advocates. 17

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself Training and Experience Training/Education: • Classroom Learning • Distance Learning Webinars, web based, video • On-the-Job Training 18

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself Training/Education: • Keep up with technology • Efficiency and better communications • Technical, leadership, supervisory, or managerial • What to take and when? 19

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Getting There Experience • Switch collateral duties frequently Learn different subjects and get different experiences • Special/rotational assignments Other modal administrations and agencies. • Team Assignments Lead or be a member 20

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Getting There Experience • Process/program/quality reviews • Office ad hoc teams/committees • Lateral re-assignments Cultivate a professional network Continuously expand…It’s who you know. 21

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Getting There Experience • Volunteer Work • Offers experience opportunities • Organizational, management, supervisory, and communications and leadership skills • Shows initiative • Develops people skills 22

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Getting There Experience • Volunteer Work continued • Church committees, Scouts, H. S. Band Booster fund raising, coaching, tutoring… 23

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Establish High Ethical Standards • Avoid getting something for personal gain • Learn the Business-knowledge and skills • • Technical Legal Supervisory Management 24

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Develop your communications skills • Learn from others: verbal and written styles • Write and distribute special reports • Good practices, troublesome and emerging issues, new technologies… • Volunteer to speak/moderate at meetings and conferences • Develop your presentation skills. • Share information • Volunteer to teach 25

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Develop a positive and professional attitude Dress to make your “Mamma Proud” Exhibit enthusiasm Develop good people skills • Be tactful and respectful Be visible…be there…be a player. • • 26

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself Always do your homework… Be prepared for presentations and meetings • • Have an agenda…have a message? • Be willing to contribute…Be helpful …Add value • Make getting to “Yes” your goal • …Win-Win. 27

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Know your oversight responsibilities • Always keep arms length from consultants/contractors/recipients • You are not their friend • Assure compliance • Always - Make your agency look good – and strive to make it better 28

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climb the Career Ladder …Preparing Yourself • Learning the highway business …takes time • Getting experience…takes time • Getting “seasoned”…takes even longer • Have realistic career expectations • Work at the “Next Level” • Work beyond your PD responsibility level • Have Fun !!! 29

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder … Through Mobility • Career Mobility – Getting assignments in a number of positions and getting a variety of experiences for career enrichment and advancement (CEA) • Geographic Mobility – You pack up the household and move the family for CEA. • Geographic Im. Mobility – You stay in one location and are not able or willing to pack up and move the family for CEA. 30

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder … Through Mobility • Career Mobility – Advantage • You gain a variety of experiences • Geographic Mobility – Advantage • More opportunities for changing career positions and competing for promotions • Work with different people and cultures …Different MPOs, LPA…different geography… different perspective…expands network • Facilitates career mobility 31

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder … Through Mobility • Geographic Im. Mobility • Advantage - Avoids difficulties and stress of moving the household and family • Disadvantage – Limited opportunities to change career positions or duties and compete for laterals or promotions. • Limits career mobility 32

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder … Through Mobility • Many leadership and management positions require a wide array of experiences (3 -5 year assignments). • Those who diversify their experiences have a huge competitive advantage over others. • Selecting officials are looking for future leaders and building the best team for themselves to be successful. 33

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Climbing the Career Ladder … Through Mobility Geographic Im. Mobility - Career Diversity View your career in the long term. • Be career mobile in your office. • Don’t wait for a vacancy. • Start today to prepare yourself to be competitive for those limited opportunities that come up…in 3 years, 10 years, 15 years…or as surprises! • Be Deliberate…Be Patient. 34

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…Preparing A Resume You are now ready to compete for the next position… promotion. • Your position description is not your resume. • Complete your resume and tailor it to the duties of the new position. • Use the Word “I” freely. Now is the most important time to “brag” about your achievements and it is acceptable. 35

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…Preparing A Resume • Briefly describe what you did in each position • Highlight your personal accomplishments. Through examples • Illustrate your versatility and how you are different from your competitors. • Include relevant non-work related experiences and hobbies. 36

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…Preparing A Resume • Use good grammar and correct spelling…be concise and neat. This is an example of your written communications skills. • Be complete so a total stranger or a panel of strangers clearly understand your accomplishments, skills, and abilities. 37

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…Preparing A Resume • You will be judged on the contents and presentation… even if people know you. • Have members of your Career Development Team critique your resume. • Good qualifications and a good resume will get you to the second step… The Interview. 38

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…The Interview • You are competitive… If you get to an interview, you have been short listed • How you respond to interview questions, is a reflection of your verbal communications abilities. 39

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration When Preparation Meets Opportunity…The Interview • Prepare and anticipate how you will answer questions. • Get pointers from your career advancement team members. • Relax and be natural. • Dress professionally. 40

U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Enhancing Your Transportation Career Taking Control and Managing Your Career… Questions? 41