| AWWA Career Zone -- Out with the old, in with 2021
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AWWA Career Zone -- Out with the old, in with 2021

By Stuart Karasik

Ding, dong, the unprecedented year of 2020 is…. behind us. It’s time to make the most of 2021’s fresh canvas.

Career ZoneI recently enjoyed a blog post by Anese Cavanaugh, “10 Components of a Sustainable (Healthy) Culture as we Lead Into 2021.”  She presented some excellent suggestions for how individuals and organizations can leave old baggage behind and successfully incorporate changes necessary in today’s work environment.

A key point she identified is the critical need to recognize that people are the most important asset of an organization, and their health and needs must be recognized and supported.

I thought it worth sharing some insights from Cavanaugh’s post that can support the ongoing success of professionals and organizations within the water sector.

  • Our workplaces must continue to prioritize the well-being and engagement of every employee at all levels. This includes offering more support for their physical, mental and emotional health; adapting to schedule and life-style needs; and providing a safe space and culture for individuals, teams and the overall organization.
  • Leaders need to express clear intentions for what the organization hopes to achieve together this year. Without in-person meetings, it is more difficult to communicate intentions, goals and objectives. The more honest and powerful the communication, the better the results.
  • Training, meetings and other strategies are critical in today’s virtual work environment to ensure everyone is informed and on the same page. Organizations need to provide resources to support employees’ self-care and financial health. Focusing on employee health and wellness, emotional, physical and psychological must become the norm.
  • Workplaces must provide employees with tools and strategies to be personally accountable for their actions, both positive and negative, and to feel recognized and valued. We’re all learning how to perform and respond in a totally dynamic environment.
  • Trust, safety and survival are often in the background of personal and professional decisions in today’s challenging environment. Individuals and organizations need resiliency to adapt, learn, reframe and move forward. However, resiliency cannot come at the expense of employee security and safety.
  • Now is not the time to be stuck in old ways of doing things or be reluctant to learn from past mistakes. To remain viable and relevant, we all must be prepared and willing to address any situation that may arise.

I hope that incorporating these guidelines will help you better manage whatever comes along in 2021, and beyond.

Stuart Karasik has spent most of his career in the human resources/personnel arena. He has a Ph.D. in education, a master’s in biology, and was previously the training program manager for the City of San Diego. More water sector career information is available at AWWA’s Career Center.

 

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