APL Quotes

The 2005 City of San Jose, CAArt and Practice of Leadership (APL) class was asked what the experience meant to them. They were also asked what value the program brought to the City. Here are their responses.

APL has offered me an opportunity to review my leadership behaviors and how I can continue to practice these behaviors for positive results. The APL Profiler and the presenter on inclusion were the most important to reflect on positive and negative practies.

Excellence.

APL is essential for those managers to continue best practices for their employees. It is an important training program for new managers to learn and practice leadership skills within the organization.

--Gary Okazaki, Recreation Superintendent, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department

The most important element is that the City make an investment in the class and in the students. You always believe in someone that believes in ou. The most important element is to meet fellow employees from other parts of the City. My circle of colleges has grown tremendously from this experience. We tend to believe the Public Safety is the only thing the city does….. now I know better. Logos, ethos, pathos – although this is greek, it is a good summary of the skills a manager/leaders should hone. You can’t keep eating your sowing seed forever. This is a great example of the city investing in its people.

--Cecil Lawson, IT Program Manager, Police Department

We care. We sincerely care about the success of City management, of this City. And to assist, the APL class provided an excellent opportunity to take time and explore the practices of exemplary leadership with peers from many departments. I have been encouraged, my confidence level for being a leader is strong, and I am optimistic about everyone’s future as effective City leaders. – Priceless education – The APL class provides top-notch leadership training for tomorrow’s leaders – us. This is not a basic leadership/manager training session. Instead, we discussed, shared, collaborated with our peers from other departments on a number of leadership topics that CEO’s of corporations are faced with daily. Always an exciting class to attend, immensely valuable information to apply now and for the future, and certainly a requirement for a successful organization to train tomorrow’s leaders.

--Tom Esch, Senior Civil Engineer, San Jose Mineta International Airport

The most important elements for me have been an opportunity to obtain 360 degree profiler input from bosses, peers and staff, network with some great people with whom I don’t normally interact, participate in great training exercises and discussion – great – challenging – edifying – insightful. First, acceptance into the class provides a participant with some reassurance that department heads believe there is leadership potential. Second, there are a lot of good people in the city that we don’t normally get an opportunity to interact with. This class provides an introduction and an informal yet constructive setting to network. Third, the discussion/training topics have been enlightening. It was interesting to hear what councilmembers think of staff. And interesting to hear leadership hints from various department directors and deputies.

--Kevin Briggs, Senior Civil Engineer, Public Works Department

APL has been a boon to me in that I have re-awakened some of the original pride in the organization that I had when I first began City service. I am so awed by the talent of my colleagues. If the APL class is any indication of our City middle manager, then we are quite blessed. If I am re-energized to want to add that much more effort to everything I do for my employer. – Networks work. APL opened the door to me for getting many of my regular tasks done. APL is an investment in the City’s employee resource. Skills and opportunity imparted are returned in increased connectivity, productivity, and energy among APL graduates. This is a good thing and helps keep morale high in an otherwise gloomy budget cycle.

--Henry Servin, Senior Civil Engineer, Department of Transportation

In my 20+ years with the City, the APL trainng has definitely been the best. The class discussions were thought provking and fun. The team project wasn’t just a “what if” exercise, but a chance for managers from across the City to come together and work as a team on a real project with opportunities to actually benefit the City. The 360 Profiler prvided meaningful feedback from both my supervisor and staff and facilitated follow-up discussions that enabled me to work on personal and team development issues. Christine Muldoon’s Collaborative Communication provided eye-opening insight into communication styles and Susan Scott’s Firece Conversations provided the tools to have those very difficult, yet essential conversations.

Awesome Training

The question of whether to continue providing APL training to other managers shouldn’t even be asked. The content of every class session was relevant to the role managers and leaders have in the City organization. With all of the challenges the City is facing, including shrinking resources and increasing expectations; it is essential that managers be equipped with the tools to lead, communicate, supervise, and to work with neighborhood groups and the media. APL is the forum to accomplish this and is definitely worth the effort and resources of the City.

--Laura Wells, Division Manager, Department of Transportation

APL has been a great journey. It broadened minds, expands personal potential and creates an environment for lasting relationships. Extraordinary!

APL is important to help develop strong and well rounded leaders. The course curriculum challenges individual weaknesses and affirms the positive attributes. Most importantly it develops comarderie throughout the organization.

--Cindy Rebhan, Parks Manager, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department

After 20 years at the City of San Jose one might be excused for having a somewhat jaded outlook towards the latest leadership craze. Searching for Excellence, Managing by Objective and Investing in Results all had their moment in the sun before fading into platitude. But Art and Practice of Leadership is different. It’s not about believeing somem anagement rubric or practicing some magic system. This leadership course helps you to take stock of your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. In the process, it reminds you and your two dozen classmates why you wanted to serve the public in the first place.

Honest – for those who choose to take advantage of it and sooner or later most everybody does, APL is a great venue for telling the truth about the good and bad of San Jose government, what works and what doesn’t.

How can you put a price tag on initiatve and commitment? With the APL the City puts significant time and effort into inspiring a handful of managers. But if only half of them bring that inspiration back to their departments it’s a bargain.

--Eric Rosenblum, Division Manager, Environmental Services Department

APL has provided me with the opportunity to step back and really reconsider my leadership style, the tools to formulate a plan for improvement, and the kick in the pants to acton thos plans. Renewal.

To provide the highest level of service with the most efficient use of resources, senior managers within the City must be able to work collaboratively across departments and specialties to create an innovative and results-oriented organization. Such collaboration entails negotiation, compromise and the kind of team-building initiatve that can only occur if senior managers possess a citywide perspective.

APL plays a key role in developing senior managers who can innovate and collaborate by providing a conceptual tool that facilitates the transition from technically-oriented supervisor to City-oriented leader. As City resources decline and community expectations rise, providing those tools through APL serves as one of the most cost-effective investments the City can make to increase its pool of innovative and collaborative senior managers.

--David Persselin, Administrative Officer, Finance Department

Among the classes offered by the City’s “leadership or supervision” education program, I consider the APL to be the best one. The APL program is well designed with really practical subjects and very experienced instructors. There are also a lot in-class opportunities to practice skills in brainstorming, sharing, and providing timely feedback. I can readily apply what I learn from the class to my real job after each session. The class I enjoyed the most is the personality profile – collaborative communication because it is less complicated to analyze and easier to apply compared with other methods. The class that I benefited the most from is the Team Project – it is a good way to practice team building skills as well as networking with other department’s staff.

The APL is worthwhile leadership training. Besides the funding availability, the department’s support is also critical to have a successful program and can maximize the training benefits. Public Works has 4 participants during this term.

--Lisa Kho, Senior Analyst, Public Works Department

The program has been a great benefit in both professional personal growth. Some of the areas of greatest impact were meeting co-workers across departments, learning from co-workers experiences, inspiration that there are really good staff in our City, internally identifying growth areas in a systematic and safe environment; actively being able to put into practice what we have experienced in the program.

Inspiration, Driving. Allows relationship across departments to form, creating the basis for collaboration and development of positive work groups, has been a very practical program, does help individuals grow and improve.

--Neil Rufino, Assistant to the Director, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department

The APL classes gave me invaluable skills at a time when my career was going through some of the most challenging issues I have ever faced. I learned much about myself and my leadership skills, and now know what to improve and what I can capitalize on in the future. In addition, Marnie provided personal advice that was invaluable. She is an excellent instructor with great insight and really understands the pressures we all face.

Fantastic!

I have attended many supervision and management classes during my time as a City employee. Some of these were sponsored by the city, some were at a nearby college and still others were held at a local community college through POST. None were of the caliber of this class. Through there were some classes that I though were going to be a waste of time, I found something new that I can apply to the way I deal with my job day to day. Bottom line is, I am a better manager because of this course. This is the best money the city can spend to develop the future leaders of the organization.

--Cameron Smith, Division Manager, Police Department

APL, is by far, the best City offered training there is. I think all managers at the City would benefit from discussion regarding some often neglected topics. Specifically, I benefited greatly from the topics of risk taking, talent development and succession planning. Many managers are very dedicated to their jobs and work very hard doing more with less. The APL gives us time out of our busy routine to actually improve and develop our skills, so that we can become more effective. Otherwise we seem to just get consumed with work.

The APL reminds us what is required to manage greater responsibility. APL rocks!

--Craig Temple, Senior Engineer, Public Works Department

APL prepares you for what you think you can’t do.

--Marsha Lynch, Division Manager, Information Technology Department

APL has provided a critical pause to consciously evaluate each of my goals – be they personal or professional. Exceptional!

APL challenges the individual to see their strengths and weaknesses from within and without. With this knowledge, an individual uncovers the true energy of the self and how that drive may better contribute and lead with in the organization. Simply state, win-win.

--Glenn Rock, Program Manager II, Public Works Department

APL has expanded my understanding of city government and how the various departments weave together to provide city services. APL has provided me with useful leadership techniques that will help me balance my professional and personal life more effectively. Revitalizing.

We desperately need to “build our bench” in order to continue to meet the public’s ever increasing expectations.

--Angel Rios, Jr., Acting Deputy Director, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department

Through APL I identified my own strengths and weaknesses; recognize the City as a whole has great people doing great things that in my normal course of business I would not realize. Wow! And Uh-oh!

--Ray Salvano, Senior Civil Engineer, Department of Transportation

APL provides perspective. It is so important, particularly as a manager, to understand how individual/department goals nest in the overall mission. “Environmental awareness” is essential for a manager/leader in a political environment if any risk taking is to be accomplished successfully! APL made a very positive difference in the kind of manager I am and can grow to be.

Growth – personal and professional is so critical. It is even better still to have the opportunity to grow as a team within the organization!

--Nanci Klein, Manager of Corporate Outreach