water environment federation i appreciate the …...access to clean and safe water and sanitation...
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Eileen O’Neill Executive Director
Water Environment Federation
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I appreciate the opportunity to….
“Project Management & YPs Embracing the Inevitable Combination”
High expectations to do more with less
Demand for multi-skilled employees
Rapidly accelerating rate of technology
Information overload Competition Being a great
technical expert is no longer enough
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YP Summit -- "Reflections" This year’s YP Summit theme is “Project Management and Young Professionals: Embracing the Inevitable Combination.” I think the 'inevitable combination' of our YPs taking on a career in water.... whether it be project management or any other component of the water profession is even tougher than when I entered the work world. I say that because I have such dramatic and rapid changes that certainly force us all to keep pace. Changes like: - the high expectations from companies and utilities to do more with less - the demand for multi-skilled employees - the rapidly accelerating rate of technology - the information overload (communications/email, etc) the competition in an economy that has been struggling.
21st Century Water Challenges...
21st Century Water Opportunities...
Access to clean and safe water and sanitation remains a challenge
Looking at the Rest of the World
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- and while I'm on that subject, the millions of people globally that STILL do not have access to clean water or sanitation. Importance of water continues to grow. Concerns about availability and quality of freshwater resources remain at the top of the world’s environmental agenda. In Nov 2002, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared the years 2005-2015 to be the Water for Life international decade for action. As the date approaches, less than 2 years away, the world finds itself mired in an economic crisis that is unprecedented in its severity and global dimensions. Challenged by population growth, urbanization, poverty, etc. 1.1 billion do not have access to safe drinking water 2.5 billion do not have access to sanitation What a time to be focusing your career in water in any of these vital topical areas......
Listening to Leaders
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Ask if they know who these people are Can they spot the non engineer Explain who they are These are a sampling of the people that of the people who are are/have been experiencing the future possibilities for reinventing water services and the role utilities can play and in most cases leading the way. What have I heard from them
What We Hear is Needed Leadership - face the big problems head on and turn
challenge to opportunity
Constant innovation – identify or invent the new best practices
Be a “listening and visible partner” – develop partnerships based on credibility and trust
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From Admiral Chew – embrace your challenges – in Singapore limited water supply – requiring water imported from Malaysia – embraced technology and thought leadership – now known for innovation – sought after partner DC Water has a Chief Innovation Officer actually they call him Innovations Chief leads technology innovation and we see that in many leading utilities but we also see innovation in practices – public/private partnerships, resource sharing, innovative financing. Hear this from all This might be the biggest – as Sue Murphy says to address the huge problems they are facing WAWA had to stops acting like engineers and experts and become a listening partner. This might have been one of their toughest steps – being a bunch of engineers who prided themselves on having all of the answers. George Hawkins sad the same thing. Within months of being named GM of DC water, he had 12 people on his communications team, was out and about at main breaks etc. and generally getting to know his customers and stakeholders (practicing listening skills hones a s a barman working his way through Law School. George said We just can’t be invisible anymore – the problems are so multifaceted, the solutions will need so much money and such innovative approaches that we are going to have to be open in ways we nave have before and have people get to know us and build trust. Sue Murphy’s remarks and even the admiral.
Job Description Add-ons… excellent verbal and oral communication skills able to work with diverse groups able to lead an effective team diplomatic/tactful social poise, confidence, patient able to create enthusiasm excellent listening skills able to develop strategies toward achieving company goals capable of excelling in a fast paced, high-stress work
environment
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I've been interested to see that job descriptions in many many technical fields have included such interpersonal skills such as: - excellent verbal and oral communication skills - able to work with diverse groups - able to lead an effective team - diplomatic/tactful - social poise, confidence, patient - able to create enthusiasm - excellent listening skills - able to develop strategies toward achieving company goals - capable of excelling in a fast paced, high-stress work environment etc, etc, It's so important as you work in the day to day water sector to pick up as many of these skills as you can - some by design such as formal training and education, but also as much as you can learn from the mentors who can help you hone your people and leadership skills. These skills will be vital to a well-rounded water leader and mastering them will give you the edge in your career and maximize your opportunities.
Mentors
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On the left we have Mentor , a loyal friend and adviser to Odysseus, king of Ithaca. Mentor helped raise Odysseus' son, Telemachus, while Odysseus was away fighting the Trojan War. Of course this is from Greek mythology but as the story goes Mentor became Telemachus' teacher, coach, counselor and protector, building a relationship based on affection and trust. Mentoring today is synonymous with the process by which we guard and guide others. Mentors seemingly "adopt" those placed in their care. The guy on the left wouldn’t have needed a Google search to tell him that. This is a picture of my Dad Sean O’Neill when he was a 23-yeard old Irish man out to see the world as a low-level enlisted aircraftsman with the Royal Air Force. As I was working on this talk, my daughter asked me what I doing and when I told her getting ready to introduce someone who was going to talk about mentorship she immediately said “Well you are going to tell them about Granddad aren’t you.” Evidently that’s who came to mind when I said the word mentor to her. And he was quite a guy. One of the smartest people I have ever known but when I think about what made him so successful despite incredible hardship and obstacles – which if I were to relay to you, I think you might think I was making it up. I sometimes find it hard to believe myself – and then someone will forward an old newspaper article or an obituary and even more of the story will be revealed. What made him so successful and what I think he passed on to his grandchildren were his personal qualities of personal responsibility, resilience, and compassion
You are Leaders and Mentors
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Those of us in the water sector are grateful that young professionals such as all of you in this room will become the generation of water leaders that takes water issues to a whole new level and just perhaps you will write part of the story about how water is finally valued and how the public can't wait for their next utility bill so they can pay and write thank you notes to the water professionals! I suspect the reason you are a part of WEF and AWWA's young professionals group has much to do with your interest in learning all you can from mentors and each other to advance to a leadership role and help solve the water issues and make clean water sustainable forever. While your technical education will be vital and your success, and your experiences will add depth and breadth to your abilities, I contend that the best water leaders of today (and for the future) are those that have broadened their skill sets to include highly effective communications skills -- i.e. people skills
Mentorship… Introducing Bill Schnier
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RE Mentorship Bill recently retired after 33 years are the Head Coach for the University of Cincinnati's Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team with even more years as an educator Bill has a bachelors degree from Capital University, a master degree from Wright State University and a PhD. In Human performance for Indiana University Has had enormous success as a coach. Transforming the Cincinnati Bearcats from an individual-orientated squad to one where team-spirit took precedence . He led the team to win 12 conference team championships and 138 individual championships. He was names conference coach of the year 15 times and Ohio Coach of the year three times. I understand that despite all of this coaching success, Bill considers himself first and foremost a teacher. Either way, clearly Bill knows something about mentoring. Bill’s presentation will examine the mentor/mentee relationship by exploring these questions: How can you establish roles in the mentor/mentee relationship? How can you transition from being a student to being a teacher? He will review mentoring models based on the age-old concept of apprenticeships by learning from some great mentors in history. Please join me in welcoming Bill Schnier
Water Needs You