The Administrator Texas State Agency Business Administrators’ Association • Volume 28, Number 1 • March 2010 “Shootout at the TSABAA Meetings Y.O.”: 30th Mid-Winter Enrich Your Life Conference Highlights December Bi-Monthly Meeting Now that your cowboy boots have been kicked Deepens Understanding of to the back of the closet, it’s time to reflect Effective Listening on the 30th Annual Mid-Winter Conference held at the YO Ranch Resort and Conference Sometimes we could all use a jumpstart, a tune- Center on Jan. 13–15. The turnout was one up or a makeover. No matter how long or short a of the biggest ever, and folks had a great time time we’ve spent toiling at our jobs, a new angle networking, exchanging ideas, and acquiring can enliven us and help connect all those loose new tools to assist to help them with their ends. TSABAA bi-monthly meetings can be the personal and professional development. means to accomplish just that. Shootoutat the Conference Chair Cecilia Whitley scored TSABAA meetings live up to their billing. YO a big A+ by lining up a top-notch To wit, the meetings “provide quality training group of interesting and insightful from noted experts speaking on subjects offering Revenue vs. Budget professional growth and quality managerial, TSABAA speakers. Here are some highlights: 30th Mid-Winter Conference���������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� John O’Brien, Director of the Legislative Budget technical and self-improvement training and Board (LBB), provided the group with interesting provide members with the opportunity to network albeit sobering news on the state’s economy, with other agency associates.” revenue projections and the budget forecast. Take for instance the December meeting on the Although the news was tough to hear, there is still “7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Habit 5.” much to be thankful for considering what other Even if you have never gotten around to reading states are currently facing. For more information the book, you could on other state’s economic outlooks, read our feature learn how to “Seek First article, “Challenging Times for Texas.” to Understand, Then to Sandra Woodruff, Director of Special Projects be Understood.” in the Fiscal Management Division, and J. P. Professional Wardle, Area Manager in the Innovation and Development Specialist Technology Division, came from the Jenny Newman of Comptroller’s office to bring the group up the State Auditor’s to date on Enterprise Resource Planning Office may not have (ERP) implementation. The ERP project been speaking at the Dell Diamond (site of the has been renamed “Our New Enterprise” upcoming June 7–8 Summer Conference), but her (ProjectONE) and includes the Texas presentation hit the ball clear out of the park. She Department of Transportation (TxDOT), used a lively mix of lecture, interactive exercises Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department continued on page 2 continued on page 3 INSIDE Message from President | Texas Quiz | Audit Report “Shootout at the Y.O.”: 30th Mid-Winter Conference Highlights continued from page 1 of Information Resources (DIR), and five Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. For the latest project updates, go to the Texas ProjectONE Web site. Christine Bailey, CCP, GRP, Senior Classification Analyst at the State Auditor’s Office, presented updates to the State Classification Plan, which was given a major overhaul during the 81st legislative session. William S. “Shack” Nail, Director of Governmental Relations at the Employee Retirement System (ERS), provided an update from the 81st Legislature and the state of the state of ERS’s finances. To view a copy of the “ERS Update” presentation, see the TSABAA Conferences page. ���� ����������� ��������� �������������� ��� ������������ ���������� ����� ���������� �� ���: ��� �� • State will increase its contribution to the ERS Trust from 6.45% to 6.95% beginning with January payroll through end of FY 2011 • HB 2559 matches employee contributions to state contribution rate up to 6.50% of salary ����� ������������ ���� ���� �������� �� ������ ����������� ����� ���� ������ ����� ���� ���������� • Increased contributions have a long-term positive effect on Trust Fund’s financial stability Laura Taylor-Woods, Professional Development Specialist at the State Auditor’s Office provided great advice for honing your verbal judo skills. To view a copy her “25 Tips for Communicating Under Pressure” presentation, see the TSABAA Conferences page. Bart Loeser of JBL Micro Training Inc. shared his “Top Five Practices of Highly Effective Leadership.” Dr. Boyd Bush, Jr., from the Texas Legislative Council provided leadership training and Ross Ramsey of Texas Weekly presented “Legislative Outlook: Predictions and Reminisces.” To close out the conference, Don Green, Lt. Governor’s Office; Andrew Blifford, Speaker’s Office; and Sarah Hicks, Senate Finance Committee; led a very informative legislative panel discussion. Just When You Think Texas Has It Bad… As you scramble to make budget cuts, you may want to take a break and read about the “Bleak Outlook for State Finances” outlined in the January issue of Governing magazine. As a senior New York state agency official puts it, “The truth is, government can’t afford government anymore. We’ve become too expensive.” 2 The Administrator | Volume 28, Number 1 | March 2010 TSABAA Meetings Enrich Your Life December Bi-Monthly Meeting Deepens Understanding of Effective Listening continued from page 1 and video of a Stephen Covey workshop to teach • Don’t be afraid of silence. Sometimes just how to diagnose before you prescribe. listening and saying nothing is the best way As her handout says, “Most people don’t take to get to the heart of the issue. the necessary time and effort to properly diagnose The flyer for the training quoted the Native the symptoms before prescribing solutions. They American proverb, “Listen, or your tongue will immediately assume they understand someone make you deaf.” Covey points out that we tend to else’s condition and quickly offer their own define the world as advice.” we are, not as it really According to Stephen Covey, it is ineffective to is. The 5th habit of Seek first to listen with the intent to reply rather than really highly effective people listening. We attempt to solve other people’s understand and then calls us to stop and problems based on our own experiences. He likens this to forcing other people to wear your listen. Before rushing to be understood.® prescription glasses as if that would make them to speak, slow down see more clearly. Here, does this help? The answer and listen. Only then Use empathic is, not at all. move forward and listening—listening Much more effective is empathic listening— seek to be understood. listening with the intent to understand. This Albert Einstein with the intent to means “not listening to advise, counsel, reply, said, “The significant refute, solve, fix, change, judge, agree, disagree, problems we face understand. question, analyze or figure out.” cannot be solved Empathic listening is reflecting what a person at the same level feels and says in your own words. Covey suggests of thinking we were at when we created them.” these helpful phrases to get started: “As I get it, TSABAA meetings can help get you to a new level you feel…” “You sound…” “So as you see it…” of thinking. “What I’m hearing is…” The December meeting was just one example. The handout also offered these tips: The March 4 meeting on “So, ...What Will I • Focus on the speaker, not, on your “correct” Find Outside the Box?” is a more overt case in response to the speaker. point. Training Specialist Ron Kelly of the Texas • If you get stuck, just repeat what the Comptroller of Public Accounts taught innovative speaker says. If you are sincerely trying to techniques and strategies on finding creative ways understand, you won’t be perceived as being to meet new challenges. Watch for the story in the manipulative. next issue of The Administrator. Let TSABAA Honor Your Nominee for Administrator of the Year and 2010 Retirees Each year TSABAA recognizes a state employee who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and made notable contributions to state agency business administration. If you would like to submit a nomination for Administrator of the Year, please see the TSABAA Web site for details. The deadline is April 16. The winner is announced at the Annual Summer Conference, where we also recognize members who have retired during the year. Please send retiree names to [email protected] or call (512) 463-4275. March 2010 | Volume 28, Number 1 | The Administrator 3 Texas, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Quiz the Ways So, you call yourself a Texan? How much do you really know about the Lone Star State? Take this quick quiz and test your mettle. What is the lowest recorded temperature in the state of Texas? A. -3° F B. -13° F C. -23° F D. -33° F Who did Allan Shivers defeat when he was elected Governor in 1952? A. Beauford H. Jester B. Price Daniel C. Ben Ramsey D. Allan Shivers When did the first woman serve on the Texas Supreme Court? A. 1925 B. 1934 C. 1947 D. 1982 What was the first official state park in Texas? A. Bastrop State Park B. Garner State Park C. Balmorhea State Park D. Mother Neff State Park Which of these Texas cities is named after a former president? A. Tyler B. Johnson City C. Nixon D. Taft Bascom Giles was the first elected state official to enter prison for a crime committed while in office. What office did he hold? A. Comptroller B. Land Commissioner C. Railroad Commissioner D. Agriculture Commissioner How many Texas governors have been impeached? A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 3 Bonus question: What are the lyrics to the Texas state song? 4 The Administrator | Volume 28, Number 1 | March 2010 TSABAA Message from the President We had a very good turn-out at this year’s Mid-Winter Conference.