From the CEO:

Building resilient teams and thriving in uncertain times

As we look to the future with possible trepidation, we must work within our organizations to make a case for greater flexibility in our views—and offers tactics for leading discussions that may open other’s eyes to do the same.

Best Practices
In most organizations, people become very attached to best practices, and once identified, they become the “gospel” over time. A key point to consider is they might’ve been the best at the time that you created them. But, as the world around you changes, as your culture evolves, what was best five years, 10 years ago may not be what’s most productive today.

I think the historical thoughts around best practices create an illusion that there’s an endpoint, that we’ve already reached perfection. With that thought, we believe we don’t need to change anything. What I would love to see more organizations do instead is to strive for better practices, right? To say, “Okay, you know what? No matter how good of a practice it becomes, there is still room for improvement, and we’re open to trying whatever ideas you have for trying to evolve the way that we do things around here.”

Leading with humility
People may believe this is a leader that has low self-esteem or has a low opinion of themselves or appears meek. That’s not actually what humility is. If you go back to the Latin roots, one of them means ‘from the earth.’ Being humble is about being grounded, recognizing that you’re only human, that you’re fallible.

I think the best leaders are those that build a healthy challenge culture as well as those that surround themselves with people that are smarter than them. They are not threatened personally or professionally. It takes real confidence to say, “You know what? Here are the things I’m not good at. Here are the questions that I don’t have answers to. Here’s what I don’t know. Here’s where I was wrong.” The research shows that leaders who are secure enough in their strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, and ask for better ideas allows them to learn more, ultimately enabling them to lead more effectively.

I think the balance of confidence and humility is to say: These are not opposite ends of a seesaw, rather things that should go together. Confidence is believing that you can do great things. Humility is knowing that you don’t always have the knowledge and skills to do them yourself.

Reading emotions like data
One of the key elements we continually hear about great corporate cultures is that their leadership team is comprised of leaders with high emotional intelligence. One of the things to understand is that emotions are data. When you see what other people are feeling, that’s information about what their motivations are, what’s occupying a lot of their energy and attention. Without that information, you’re handicapped as a leader.

At the same time, if you never show any emotion, that’s a signal that you lack passion—that, you know, that you’re incapable of really connecting to the challenges of the moment. And so, I think as someone who loves data and as somebody who tends to be left-brained, this idea that emotions are data has made me a lot more comfortable bringing them to the table.

What kind of leader are you?

Misty Mayes, CEO
Disadvantaged Small Business goals to increase by 50% 

The Senate passed a roughly $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, increasing President Biden’s small, disadvantaged business (SDB) contracting goals by 50%. The White House released new information regarding the American Jobs Plan. Here are the key details of the new contracting goals for government contractors and SDBs. 

As a result, the Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Program, the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) Program, the HUBZone Program, and the 8(a) Program can compete for, win and complete infrastructure projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. 

The new deal included the launch of an all-of-government expansion effort to expand contracting opportunities for all underserved small businesses nationwide, in hopes of seeing a 50% increase in SDB contracts. This represents the largest increase in SDB contracting since the original data was collected over 30 years ago with a value of $100 billion.  

To achieve this goal, the Biden-Harris Administration is recommending that agencies should assess every tool available to lower barriers that hinder entry to increase opportunities for traditionally small and underserved business entrepreneurs to compete for federal contracts. Biden’s recent budget proposal explained the intentions by saying “the Administration will pursue agile, innovative, outcome-based, and equity-focused, acquisition processes including a dedicated effort to eliminate barriers that small businesses in underserved communities face when competing for contracts.” 

Previously, the American Jobs Plan included a thirty-billion-dollar investment to decrease barriers in small business ownership and success. There are several benefits to these initiatives including the increased access to capital by establishing a new direct loan program for the smallest businesses, the development of new loan products to support small manufacturers and businesses that invest in clean energy, and the launch of a new Small Business Investment Corporation that will make early-stage equity investments in small businesses a priority for those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. With the amendment, there will be an increase in Small Business Administration’s (SBA) surety guarantee from $6.5 million to $10 million for small businesses to obtain bonds on projects to any owners and up to $20 million on federal prime jobs, following the required certification by the contracting officer. 

The improvements will also provide technical assistance programs to incubate and offer mentoring to 8(a) firms, reinforce the American subcontracting network to create pathways for prime contracting, encourage Fortune 500 firms to diversify their procurements, and bring more socially and economically disadvantaged businesses into federal research and development programs. This includes a new $1 billion grant program through the Minority Business Development Agency to assist minority-owned manufacturers in accessing private capital. The amendment also repeals the bona fide office rule that requires 8(a) firms to have an office in a location before receiving an 8(a) sole-source award or competitive construction contract, removes unnecessary red tape by allowing for an 8(a) to sell its business to another qualified 8(a) program participant without the need for a waive by the SBA Administrator to avoid government termination of the 8(a) contract(s) along with the option years, and creates a new authority to allow 8(a)s to transfer individual 8(a) contracts to another qualified 8(a) program participant. 

As an 8(a) participant and a provider of services to the federal government for nearly 20 years, Management Solutions is really excited about these potential growth opportunities and looks forward to continuing to grow within the federal government marketplace. 
NEW: ECITB (Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board) training courses

Throughout her thirty-year career in project controls, Management Solutions’ founder Misty Mayes has been passionate about supporting the next generation of project control professionals, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. 

As a reminder, in June of 2020, Management Solutions launched Project Controls Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary to expand access to the project controls profession. Our training programs create a pathway for aspiring project controls professionals to develop the skills and capabilities they need to build a meaningful career in a fast-growing profession.  

After building Management Solutions into a preeminent project management consultancy, Misty has devoted significant time and resources to expanding opportunities for women and under-represented groups in project controls and beyond through her advocacy for female entrepreneurs on Capitol Hill and her championing of both secondary and post-secondary education throughout Greater Appalachia.  

Project Controls Solutions evolved out of our belief that the project controls profession can create well-paying, sustainable careers for individuals. Many of the students Project Controls Solutions has trained come from rural, economically disadvantaged, or majority-minority regions. Project Controls Solutions wants to be at the vanguard of efforts to provide meaningful work, dignity, and improved quality of life and social mobility to people no matter where they live or who they are.

In addition to being certified by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), Project Controls Solutions is excited to announce that we are now a licensed certified provider of ECITB (Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board) training courses in the UK. Our course for the ECITB Certificate in Project Controls takes 9 months to complete and teaches the skills, standards and qualifications for the development of the engineering construction workforce of Great Britain. 

"This is our first accreditation in the UK indicating we have the required capacity and capability to deliver outstanding courses in Project Controls," Christine McLean Project Controls Solutions' UK Office Managing Director and Director of Project Controls Training said. "Engineering organizations can choose to use Project Controls Solutions as a preferred training provider knowing that their capability has been assessed and that they will deliver excellent training. Our data-driven approach to training enables organizations to quantifiably track the progression of each student; thus, reducing any risks associated with traditional training assumptions of one size fits all."
About ECITB:
The ECITB works with employers and training providers to attract, develop and qualify the engineering construction workforce in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines. 

What does the ECITB do? 
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board works with employers and training providers to give the engineering construction industry workforce the skills it needs to meet the challenges of the future. An arms-length body of the UK Government, the ECITB reports to the Department for Education. They invest around £25 million each year supporting employers to attract, develop and qualify their people in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines. 

The organization was established to address a market failure within the industry to provide training to its workforce. The ECITB addresses this market failure through its levy and grant system, which is used to drive up skill levels and fund training that would otherwise not take place. 

Along with the education sector, government and employers, ECITB works to ensure the UK has workers with the skills to meet the needs of the engineering construction industry. They design and award a wide range of qualifications, covering craft, technical and managerial disciplines. They are also responsible for developing and maintaining National Occupational Standards for the industry, which form the basis of our Training Standards, Vocational Qualifications, Technical Tests and Licensed Programs, delivered by our approved network of training providers. 

Learn more about how to start the education process on the PCS website.
The term “Dog Days” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Dog Days of Summer" are officially over and we are in the last month of summer.
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