Transcript NSS Powerpoint template

Transitioning to the Workplace
John Mackinnon
Vice President
Technical Support Services
AMEC NSS
Outline
 My background
 The first few years
 Considerations in the work place
 Interpersonal skills
 Life long learning
 Random thoughts
 Sample messages to my staff
 Final thoughts
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My background
 Education:
– Bachelors in Math. & Eng. - Queen’s
– Master’s in Chem. Eng. - McGill
– Ph. D. in Mech. Eng - Waterloo
 Why I went to graduate school:
– realised how little I understood
 Why I chose industry
– understand applications
– environment (team)
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My background (cont.)
 1992 - 1994
– small consulting company in Nuclear industry
– computer code development, analysis
 1994-2002
– Ontario Hydro/OPG
– Section Manager - 1998
– Department Manager - 1999
– Support to nuclear power stations: R&D, code,
analysis, industry and regulatory involvement
– Responsible for new grad program, UNENE
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My background (cont.)
 2002 - 2012
– Private consultancy company in Nuclear industry
(growth from 150 to >500)
– Business Director - 2002
– VP, Engineering – 2006
– VP, Technical Support Services
 Why I chose managerial career path
– increase awareness and sphere of influence
– opportunity to mentor and have positive impact
on people’s careers and lives
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The first few years
 Find out what you do and don’t like
 First few years are the ‘rocket fuel’
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form basis for knowledge and can set one’s career
trajectory
 Be willing to invest your own time to learn, read
and expand your knowledge
 Take charge of your career
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Give thought to how you want your career to develop,
and revisit
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The first few years
 Establish yourself in at least 1 technical area but
consider broadening your self to work in more
than 1 area
 Look to become known to others outside your
immediate work group
 Conduct yourself appropriately - people are
watching
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The first few years
 Mentors:
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don’t need to be supervisor, more senior, even in
same company
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relationship needs to work and be natural/comfortable
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characteristics:
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respect
compassion
judgement
honesty
available
wants to help
discreet
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Considerations in the work place
 Always ask if you do not know
–
be able to explain things in concise, simple terms
 Always do the honorable thing
 Come prepared to meetings
 Treat everyone with respect
–
Say thank you
 When seeking help - come with proposed
solutions, not just problems
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Considerations in the work place
 Appearance
 Grapevine/gossip
 Seek opportunities - ask how you can help
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develop a reputation as someone who says ‘yes’
 Email and following up
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Wait 24 hours before you react
 Understand what commitments/expectations are and
update supervisor (client) along the way - no surprises
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Considerations in the work place
 Try and learn what the ‘small stuff’ is
 Pick your battles
 Organisation
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keep good notes
keep good to do list
meet your committed dates
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Interpersonal skills
 Learn what is important to others
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important to understand what supervisor wants
 Understand it is very difficult to change how
others act/think
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you can only control how you react
 Watch how others act in situations
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learn by example and counterexample
ask to go to meetings with senior people
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Life long learning
 Keep up technical skills
 Find out where additional/new information can be found
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library, journals, reports, presentations, training materials
 Invest your own time
 Consider benefit of graduate courses/degrees
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Life long learning
 Be honest and open to feedback
 Be self critical on areas to improve
 Prepare yourself for next position - you cannot control
timing but can control your readiness
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Random thoughts
 Learn from mistakes
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don’t deny - stand up and admit
accept it can shake your confidence but persevere
 Stretch yourself
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be prepared to work outside your comfort zone
there will be times when it seems insurmountable - ask
for feedback/support and keep going
 Work/life balance
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consider how comfortable you are in letting your
work/career define who you are
lifestyle will impact you later in life
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JM – Challenges/what I learned
(Sample from presentation to staff October 2012)
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Humbling
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New areas of work, business
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Admitting when wrong
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Continuous improvement
Accountability
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Importance of meeting commitments
Excitement
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Developing and implementing strategic plans
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Watching staff grow and seize opportunities
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What you can expect from me
(Sample from presentation to staff October 2012)
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I will be involved
I will challenge you
I will support you
I will insist everyone is accountable to each other
I will drive improvements and insist on transparency
I will have communication as a focus
I will have open door and will be accessible
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Office: x4360; Cell: 647 248-4360; Home: 416 762-5493
I will be involved with the clients
I will be involved in business development
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What I expect from you
(Sample from presentation to staff October 2012)
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You are up to the challenge to remain as top service provider
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You will hold each other accountable
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We will excel in our quality, drive, responsiveness
Meet dates, respect each other’s time, be prepared
You will drive improvements and transparency
You will not be defensive & we will learn
You will follow processes
You will give me honest feedback (and solutions too, not just problems)
You will get out to the client
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Almost final thought
Have fun
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Final thought
 Greatest factors in
– workplace effectiveness
– client satisfaction
– career advancement/opportunities
Communication & interpersonal skills
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