The Noise Doesn’t Go Away
And other lessons for the public sector from Michelle Obama’s “Becoming”
By now you have likely either read “Becoming” or are frantically posting to social media sites begging for a friend to lend you their copy since you are #871 on the library’s wait list. I was asked to review a leadership book from the perspective of our industry and, while Becoming is not a leadership book per se, the paths taken and choices made by the Obamas convey many leadership lessons that are especially relevant in the public sector. Here are a few highlights . . .
“The noise doesn’t go away.”
Working in the public sector, particularly in transportation, you are definitely going to hear when things go wrong, and you are unlikely to hear when things go right. People notice when they are stopped at a red light with no opposing traffic, but rarely reach out to let you know that the signals were well-coordinated for their morning commute. Public meetings, regardless of the topic, never end in standing ovation. As a public servant, reminding yourself that “the noise doesn’t go away” can help you hear the negative feedback, set your ego aside, and use what you heard to improve your work without letting it drag you down and burn you out.
“Am I good enough? Yes, I am.”
Michelle repeats this mantra several times throughout her memoir when she is faced with feelings of self-doubt. Transportation professionals are especially susceptible to Imposter Syndrome. The technologies used to enable personal travel are changing at a rapid rate, and even the planning data we once held sacred is quickly made irrelevant by proprietary data sets managed by tech giants. Repeating this simple and powerful mantra can help you gain clarity about the data, skills, and abilities that you have at your disposal to solve the next challenge. When you’ve done your homework and you’re ready to face the challenge ahead, you are indeed good enough and self-doubt will only serve to hold you back.
“Failure is a feeling long before it is an actual result.”
In this case, Michelle is referencing the Chicago public school system, but feelings of failure can plague any large-scale (or small-scale) public service project. The numerous challenges to implementing any large-scale transportation project, from a daunting public process to incorporating intelligent transportation system technologies that won’t be obsolete upon implementation, can feel insurmountable. Frequently revisiting what success looks like will keep the team focused on the end goal, rather than dwelling on the inevitable hiccups and bureaucratic roadblocks along the way.
In conclusion . . .
As public servants in the transportation industry, a few of our projects may end in celebratory ribbon-cuttings and media coverage, but most of our day-to-day work to keep travelers safely and efficiently moving will go unnoticed. On that note, I’d like to use my last bit of space to give a shout out to City of Austin traffic signal technicians for repairing video detection at over 50 intersections last month! Take the time to celebrate your own successes and the successes of your team, no matter how small. Thanks Michelle.
