Greetings! The 83rd Legislative Session is beginning to pick up speed, and it is critical that we continue our contact with our legislators. I have noticed from my judicial listserv that some of the bills being filed may create difficulties for local government. For those who disagree with proposed legislation, please make your concerns known to our Association. Jim Allison, our general counsel, has been busy examining the bills that affect each of our counties.
Going in another direction, I want to talk about the importance of teamwork. We are so blessed here in Johnson County when it comes to our employees and elected officials working together; of course, we sometimes have our differences, but we work through the differences for the greater good of the county. Whenever I hire new employees, I make them aware up-front that if they upset the balance of the working relationships in the office, then they will be the first to go.
I believe that regardless of where you work, the working environment will dictate the success of your organization. An employee who understands his or her individual role as part of a larger team will then become more engaged in the job at hand and will seek ways to improve and excel. I recently had an experience that supports this premise: One of our employees left, and another employee stepped in without being prompted and proceeded to fill in until a replacement could be hired. That is teamwork.
The old saying, “You are as successful as the people who surround you,” was proven true when we recently experienced problems with our software. Each department agreed to meet weekly until we could solve the problems at hand. We persevered until we accomplished our goals, and we were successful.
I hope you have this kind of teamwork in your county. I believe the concept of teamwork is critical and warrants an important reminder: Our success as elected officials cannot be accomplished alone, but by everyone working together for the improvement of our counties. Leadership starts with you. Hope to see you soon! H
