People Are Our Greatest Asset

Over the many years I was employed as a manager in the private or the governmental sector, I always believed that those who worked alongside me were our largest asset. They would provide me and any other organization I would manage with the foundations for the successes or failures in our efforts, whether they were in the governmental, private, or volunteer segments of the communities or private companies I served within. 

A clear and defined set of responsibilities, in addition to what was to be expected of me and the remainder of our team, along with the goals and objectives for eachmember within those organizations, would be key to the eventual success or failure of that team and the mission we would be responsible for. 

I mention this as a backdrop to my comments today, so you understand my thought process and the reasoning behind my remarks. 

Over the last month, we have begun to witnessa very serious “brain-drain” from those in very important positions within the city’s upper-level management teams. These are important folks regardless of their positions on these teams, especially during the important budget deliberation period. 

The loss of the former Budget Director for the city was a very unfortunate loss for the community. His departure left many wondering what caused this void to be created within this important city department. Thiseventcouldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. It highlights the overdue need to strengthen this key department using a sports coaching analogy of building a "stronger bench" to deal with a weakness within that important department. 

The loss of Mike Daniels as our city’s construction manager was but another regrettable loss, as he recently chose to step aside priorto the city preparing to undertake a rather large and complex construction task at the main entrance to the island. This will entail a one-year project to fix an issue that has been long overdue, but poorly planned.  

Daniels had been the “go-to man” regarding major projects on the island,such as this upcoming endeavor. He knew the island better than anyone I’m aware of, and his hands-on experience from his days with Deltona is something that cannot be replaced and is another example of failing to put together a planregardingbuilding a “strong bench presence” for our personnel in key departments. 

Another two losses I’ve become aware of within two other important departments include the city’s HR Department and the Purchasing and Risk Management Department. In today’s fast-moving changes within both these areas of expertise, it is vitally important to maintain competent and capable employees dealing with both these specialty areas. There is nothing more important than the responsibility to protect the personnel of the city as well as the municipal assets of our community. 

Building a sense of loyalty and commitment to the mission of the organization or company is more important than ever before in this extremely competitive environment we exist in today.  

Human potential is the only limitless resource we have in this world. Properly applied, focused and leveraged, human potential can advance any goal, solve any problem, and achieve lofty aspirations.  

Every organization is only as good as the people within it, and the extent to which their full potential is tapped and utilized. People are indeed an organization’s greatest asset, but that asset is so often squandered or taken for granted. 

Personnel must be made to feel they are appreciated within your organization;otherwise we risk the potential of losing them.And should they leave, we are burdened with the costs to replace and retrain them. 

Whether it is a governmental worker, a private company employee, or a volunteer, we must do our best to make them feel appreciated and provide them with a welcoming work environment that makes them feel appreciated every day.