Let me offer you a piece of advice. A few pieces, actually.
Don’t worry. I’m not launching a Dear Helen column. Most of this is not even mine.
I’m sharing words of wisdom that have made an impression on some of our County leaders. Understanding what helped guide them to where they are is useful for all of us.
So I gave these department heads the writing prompt: “the best advice I’ve had.” Here’s what they had to say.
The best advice I have ever received is “treat people how you want to be treated – even when they don’t deserve it.” We have all encountered situations at work or in our personal lives where we felt disrespected, frustrated, taken advantage of, or were treated rudely. Often our first instinct in these situations is to treat them the same way. In reality, the best way to stop rude behavior is to be kind and empathic because the person doesn’t expect that reaction. Experience, age, and teenagers have helped me live by this advice. When you treat people how you want to be treated even when they don’t deserve it, great things happen!
Early in my career, my dearest mentor told me, “Generate within yourself an interest in all aspects of County governance and operations.”
He meant that I should pay attention to issues affecting the County as a whole, not just my own department. The County is unique among municipal jurisdictions in that it has primary responsibility for so many services that affect the daily life and well-being of the communities it serves. The more you can learn about the County’s full spectrum of responsibilities, the more effective you become in your own department.
Always seek out and develop relationships across the entire County and all levels of employees. They are your greatest resource. The better you understand their mission, the more effective you’ll be in seeking their help or knowing when to offer your help to them. Also, the more you understand the individual mandates and regulatory environments under which departments operate, the less like a bureaucracy the County seems and your success navigating through the system will increase greatly.
Finally, when you develop an increased understanding of the entire County, the more pride you feel in the success of any individual department or employee.
Dress Upward
Holly Crawford, Office of Emergency Services
Right after college, before I started my first job, my aunt took me shopping for suits. She said, “Always dress for the job you want next – not the job you currently have.” I can’t say I’ve followed her advice every day of my life. But I do think - in addition to preparation - looking the part is important. So, if you see me around the County dressed as a mermaid this will all make sense.
You Can't Please Everyone
Adolfo Gonzales, Probation
Best advice I ever got:
You can't please everyone 100% of the time. That's the formula for failure.
It doesn't matter what you say or what you do, people will remember how you made them feel.
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Add Value
Dale Fleming, HHSA Strategy & Innovation
Regardless of where you are assigned, always try to be seen as an asset by your employers. Be the worker who is most efficient, who understands their job and its importance to the organization, who is open to new ideas, who is a good team player.
I've always been involved in policy work. For me, this means knowing my job and how it fits in the overall organization and understanding why I do what I do.
Who in the world is doing cutting edge work in this area, either as a star performer at work, or a high-performing county or state? What would it take for me to raise my performance or my organization's performance to that level and beyond?
And, finally, at the end of each day, how do I answer this question: what value did I bring to the taxpayers who pay my salary? Because they are my shareholders, my investors. And they didn't voluntarily place their money into my "company," so that makes it even more critical that I try to do things that ultimately lead to better services and outcomes. Always ask yourself: how did I contribute today?
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Just Do It
Todd Adams, Civil Service Commission
“You get up, you dress up and you show up.” That applies whether it be for a job, school, following through on a favor for someone, exercising, or anything else.
Many years ago when I started in the environmental health profession, the laws for hazardous materials facilities were just beginning. Being on the forefront of regulating businesses that stored hazardous materials and waste, we found a lot of dangerous and environmentally threatening situations. Several of these situations turned into immediate responses from the fire department or enforcement cases. I learned very quickly from my mentors that you always need to remain calm and stay on track, even though on the inside you are racing. A leader that is calm and collected is important to help keep those around settled and focused on the situation at hand. I believe it has helped me as I have moved up in the ranks, reminding myself to keep a positive, calm and smiling appearance regardless of what is going on.
Stay Committed
Mikel Haas, County Technology Office
The best piece of professional advice I ever received? Four words: Conform to your commitment.
In my case, it was originally preceded by an exhortation about the need to fully commit yourself to difficult things. And the kicker, of course, was: [and then] “Conform to your d*&# commitment.”
It was a great lesson. Because it works for all things great and small. From simply returning a promised phone call – even if the timing becomes inconvenient for you – to finding a way to meet a seemingly impossible deadline when things start to go sideways. The internal compass, the mantra? Conform to your commitment.
When you establish and hold to that, within yourself and those around you, tremendous things can happen. It is tried and true. So many things go right when you adopt and practice this – and so many things go wrong when you don’t.
Helen again here. Good thoughts, all of them.
As for me, my mother has given me wonderful advice throughout my life. But when I graduated from college she said her work was now done and the rest was up to me. “The world you will live in, is the one you build. You build it with your choices. Choose your character, your attitude, your words and your actions in a manner that allows you to live in the world you desire.”
Passing along the best of what we’ve learned is part of the County way. It’s what we call “threading” in the General Management System. Getting the benefit of others’ experience is way more efficient than trying everything yourself.
Some of this advice will probably apply to you and your situation more than others. Pick what works for you and make it your own.
Oh – and dress in layers. You’ll be glad you did.
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