Public Power - November 2008 - (Page 27)

formation to see that certain names cropped up in reference to problems; others in reference to solutions. Reading on, I noticed the workers themselves got relatively little coverage. Repairing and maintaining trucks and equipment, ordering parts, testing water samples, clearing downed tree limbs, updating meters – all took precedence in the journals’ pages. I began to realize keeping a business journal is an excellent idea for anyone in pubic power utilities, and it’s a fairly quick and easy thing to do. There are many sound reasons for keeping a journal. Let’s start with mem- fall through the cracks. You can structure your day based on which items are most pressing. Fixing the traffic light on the corner of Fifth and Ridge might come before getting the fractures in the boom support of the bucket truck welded. Both are important, both need to be addressed to avert disaster; but one has to come first. Looking at things in black and white helps you choose wisely – it maximizes your time and business efficiency, not only for yourself, but for your staff as well. The stress of a supervisory capacity in public power is undeniable. There are so many elements to it, so many lives that ployee is coming to work late, not available during emergencies, alleges that he/she is frequently hurt, you know something is brewing and should be addressed. Since you are inundated with a million other details, the attendance habits of one particular employee may not register – until you see it on a semi-regular basis. Similarly, if the pump on well # 13 is tripping off intermittently, it may need more than a quick fix. Like the popular 3-D stereograms, the more you stare at the whole picture, the more likely an individual image will appear. Once you have a handle on perspective, Keeping a journal will help you sleep better at night, because it is therapeutic in nature. It is both a literal and figurative “unloading” of your mental hard drive. ory. During the course of a typical workday, any number of things can happen. Some are planned, others not so much. From the miniscule to the catastrophic (not to mention the countless interruptions in between), everyday events are self-generating and tough to keep track of – especially when you have to write reports weeks after the fact. That’s what got my dad started. He knew he had to write substantive reports, because in public power you never operate in a vacuum. Everything is transparent. Jotting down a brief outline at the end of the day increases your memory of events. Writing is a specialized function, in that it helps “tattoo” ideas and events in our minds. In his abstract in Language Sciences in September 2007, Richard Menary said the physical act of writing (or typing) is directly related to cognition and memory. It is an effective tool for stimulating thought and retention. The next two reasons for maintaining a business diary go hand in hand: organization and prioritization. A concise inventory of daily affairs gives you a sense of continuity, which helps with both. At a glance you can see where things were left off yesterday and need to be picked up tomorrow. Small details will be less likely to www.APPAnet.org depend on things running smoothly, that the pressure is ever-present. Keeping a journal will help you sleep better at night, because it is therapeutic in nature. It is both a literal and figurative “unloading” of your mental hard drive. All of the troubling details of your day are “purged,” and you can step back and look at them clearly and objectively. You may have a sense of frustration at day’s end because you did not accomplish everything you set out to. It comes with the territory. When you write things down, though, you may realize they’re not as bad as you thought. Putting up banners for the Ambulance Corps fundraiser can wait until tomorrow, and won’t take long. The streetlight in need of repair is not going anywhere. Even if you have a multitude of troubling issues to face in the morning, at least you know they are recorded and will be dealt with in an organized and timely manner. A business journal also offers perspective. If you take a few minutes at the end of each month to flip through the pages (whether they’re electronic or hand scripted) you will see patterns emerging. If an employee complains about stomach problems and goes home early, for example, no big deal. No red flag there. But, over the course of time, if that same em- decision-making becomes less difficult. Decisions based on logic and solid facts are necessary to keep any business on course. In public power utilities, some issues have to be decided on a moment’s notice. Wind damage, flooding, transformers hit by lightning, all require an immediate response and urgent action. There are other problems, however, that require critical thought—a mental list of pros and cons. This is where a journal can be most helpful. If you are diligent in your writing and rational in your discernments, your journal will become an integral part of decisions you make along the way. Keeping a journal need not be timeconsuming. Stick to one of the fundamental rules of life: Keep it simple. Here are some tips to help you get started writing an effective journal: Make yourself comfortable. Use a format that is best suited to your individual needs. If you still prefer to put pen to paper, by all means, have at it. Small bound notebooks with lined paper are readily available. Some fancy the daily diaries, already imprinted with the date at the top of each page. Office supply stores and even pharmacy and grocery stores typically have ample choices. If your predilection is the computer, NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 27 http://www.APPAnet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - November 2008

Public Power - November 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Capturing Knowledge Before It Retires Jackson’s GIS Search Keeping a Job Journal Japan Tackles the Kyoto Protocol Getting to 20 by 10 Damless Hydro Power Earthquake: The Hidden Disaster For Engineers Safety For Governing Boards DEED Hometown Connections Parting Shot

Public Power - November 2008

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