Work Dynamics

I’m wrapping up putting my accomplishments list together.  And through it I’ve been doing some reflecting of where I was when I started and where I am now on many fronts.  I just had a meeting with a staff member who pulled me aside for a quick talk.  Basically they were bringing up some concerns about internal department items.  It was very rewarding to play this role now.  Really being a department head that addresses concerns of staff especially with issues happening in the department.  I’ve always done this at some level, but this was something that most often doesn’t get brought up period because it’s a touchy subject.  I felt good that they felt comfortable 1) sharing the information with me, and 2) that they trusted me with the information.  I know I’ve come across situations where I didn’t always feel comfortable sharing the info with bosses and when I did, I got burned because of how they dealt with the information.  Lessons learned there.

The other nice accomplishment was the feedback I got at a meeting yesterday.  It was for a project interview.  We’re trying to get on a team that is pursuing a project and everyone needed to agree with which engineer to use.  We were the favorite with some folks at the table but new to others.  Myself, two managing principles and a senior engineer presented.  It was myself and one of the managing principles that were the bulk of the discussion.  It was a really nice dynamic back and forth between the two of us and with the folks at the table.  Afterwards, the other managing partner pulled me aside and was clearly very impressed with me.  Always nice to hear and see.  And of course, it didn’t hurt that my department received unsolicited  compliments.  The architect was very vocal about how they have always appreciated our modeling - the quality is solid and we do it early to inform design, something they have a hard time getting from other engineers.  Needless to say, I took that and did some self-promotion inside the company today.  First sharing the information with the department - always good to hear such nice stuff, and then forwarding the info to top folks.  I’m slowly learning that you need to toot your own horn.  I know you need to do it, but it’s hard to learn the skill - yet critical.

 

The managing principal that pulled me aside after, had taken some pictures of us as we were waiting in the lobby prior to the presentation.  And on a smart phone too -impressive quality.  I didn’t realize, so here’s a true candid of myself.  And two of my colleagues - clearly they noticed photos were being taken.



And a nice shot of a building in Boston, taken from the Uber ride on our way to the meeting.