“Man’s flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge” Austin ‘Dusty’ Miller

By Michael Hyland, P.E., Executive Director, Northeast Public Power Association

On the first day of my freshman year at the US Air Force Academy, I stepped onto the campus, and I was struck by a quote inscribed under the statue of a pair of Eagles. Here I was, 17 years old, ready to take on boot camp, and my mind was swirling with thoughts of running, pushups, weapons training, shooting, fighting and all the others crazy thoughts of what was about to happen over the next 8 weeks. It baffled me at the time - why is there a prominently displayed quote about knowledge as I enter a place that’s about to beat me down for the next year or so? My thoughts were: my knowledge already got me into this place – now I need to learn how to fly, how to fight, and how to become an officer.

Looking back 40 years later, I realize how wrong I was. It’s not the brawn that makes the best officer, its not the best climber that makes the best lineworker, and it’s not the most talented with a computer spreadsheet that makes the best accountant. Now don’t get me wrong, these are all great assets to have, but in each case, it’s just one tool in the tool kit to becoming the best in your field, regardless of the profession.

Knowledge is defined as: “facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education”. I like that definition. It makes it quite clear that experience or education can equate to knowledge. Better yet, I’ve been one to believe that experience and education is a better combination for attaining knowledge.

So where are you on this knowledge journey? Where are your employees? Are you educated, but not experienced – or experienced without education?

This is not meant to be a rhetorical question, but one of self-reflection. Do you hire only First Class Lineman, CPA’s and engineers with their PE’s, but then lock them down and never shall they leave your utility territory? It’s a common model that unfortunately I see employed throughout the United States. Go ahead - hire the best educated, but then keep them from gaining any outside experience or further training due to the fear of another company stealing that employee from your ranks. It’s the mushroom method. Keep ‘em in the dark and they’ll never leave you….. It rarely works.

The other model, the better model, is to capitalize on man’s thirst for knowledge. If a valued employee is not just allowed – but encouraged to expand his or her knowledge through further education and experiences, the utility and the employee gain as a result. The employee might find that the trust and opportunity provided from the utility to be a real plus as to why they may want to remain with that utility. For the utility, in return they attain and develop a more rounded and knowledgeable employee. It’s a win – win in most cases.

When I look at NEPPA’s strategic goals that were developed a few years back, Goal 1 reads: “Develop, acquire, and maintain top tier training content and expand expertise.” Sounds like a worthy goal and one that we all can strive to meet. Please take advantage of NEPPA’s programs which provide the education and experience that enhance an employee’s knowledge. We are also open to new ideas you might have, whether it be a new lineworker program such as next year’s Underground School, or a new classroom training for experienced leaders. Get involved. You won’t regret it.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

(9:00 am – 1:00 pm)

He will be speaking on Leadership...The Power of Integrity!

NEPPA Training Center

NEPPA Training Center

NEPPA Training Center

NEPPA Training Center

Mystic Marriott

Groton, CT

*Please contact communications@neppa.org to be notified as soon as registration opens.

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