ASK THE EXPERT PANEL SERIES
Real PEOPLE. Real SITUATIONS. Real SOLUTIONS.
Attitude is typically represented in a person’s behavior. Attitudes and behaviors displayed in the workplace can directly affect the atmosphere and productivity within an organization. A negative work environment can drain employees of enthusiasm and this might translate into poor performance. Managers are tasked with balancing employee morale and organizational strategic objectives. Although there are many factors that affect employee attitude and behavior, research to date implies that these are influenced to some extent by leadership style.
Managers can influence an employee's attitude and behavior by using different leadership styles and creating strong organizational environments. As it relates to difficult employees, corrective-action is a problematic matter for managers, with many being uncomfortable with its adversarial nature. Managers must be consistent with addressing behavioral issues by utilizing strategies that are effective and do not exacerbate the issue.
“Whatever you THINK about will dictate your BEHAVIOR, your ATTITUDE, and ultimately YOUR DIRECTION in life.” - Unknown
You should attend this panel discussion if you…
Are looking for solutions to deal with difficult people, negative attitudes and tense situations
Need tips on how to recognize the root causes of behavior and performance concerns
Desire to leverage positive corrective-action techniques that bring out the positive behavior you expect
Wish to avoid costly grievance and legal disputes
Want strategies to positively influence employee behavior and attitude
Aspire to manage and eliminate employee performance barriers with fairness and firmness
Want to take control of your toughest performance and attitude challenges, confidently and correctly
Bad Attitudes and Behavior Barriers
Location: LDC Auditorium
REGISTER NOW:
For more information, please contact Erika Johnson at Erika.johnson@houstontx.gov
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2015, 01:00 PM
Learning & Development Center | 4501 Leeland Street Houston, TX 77023
Omar C. Reid, Director, Human Resources Department
Omar C. Reid is the Human Resources Director for the City of Houston and is responsible for all the financial and administrative activities of the department. As the HR Director, he provides guidance and initiates policies for all City departments. Mr. Reid’s focus and objective in HR is to continue as a strategic partner with other City departments in managing the City’s workforce of over 22,000 employees. Additional areas of responsibility are HRIS, risk management (safety and worker’s compensation), city-wide corporate training, benefits administration, finance and strategic design, employee and labor relations, salary and compensation, as well as workforce and strategic planning. Director Reid has initiated several major initiatives that significantly improved the services provided to the City’s workforce. With a strategic focus on process improvement and enhanced client services, Mr. Reid has:
- Centralized City HR operations resulting in increased efficiency and decreased liability changing the city’s HR ratio from 1:38 to 1:120
- Moved from a fully-insured to self-insured health benefits program resulting in over $19 million dollar cost avoidance in the first year and a cost savings of over $65 million in the last two years
- Implemented a nationally acclaimed Health Assessment and Wellness initiative to cultivate a healthier workforce. Having received the WELCOA Gold level on the first application and leading the City of Houston to recognition as one of the top 100 healthiest places to work in the country
- Revamped the employee evaluation system to one which incorporates SMART goals based on organizational strategic objectives into employee evaluations
- Re-Instituted the Leadership Institute Program (LIP), a nine month training program to develop emerging talent in the organization
- Fully automated a number of processes including benefits open enrollment and all personnel transactions
- Restructured the Risk Management Division adding a Safety Education unit
- Established a strong, respectful relationship with the city’s three employee unions
Mr. Reid earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from University of Houston – Downtown and his MBA degree from Texas Southern University. He has over twenty-nine years of human resources and specialized leadership/management experience; his expertise in leadership, team-building, problem solving, and communications have been demonstrated by his successful involvement in both business projects and community activities. The City of Houston has received many awards/recognitions as a result of the efforts of Mr. Reid and the HR team. Mr. Reid’s efforts have provided models for other organizations to emulate. He has been invited to speak or visit with leadership teams and organizations across the country. Listed among his accomplishments, Mr. Reid is a published author of The Traffic of Life: Characteristics of Effective Leadership.
Mr. Reid has a ‘people come first’ personal philosophy and lives by his three keys to success which are, ‘Trust, Communication & Perception is Reality’. He and his wife Janice have a daughter, Brianna, who follows the examples of hard work in education and sports that is exhibited by both her parents.
Donna Edmundson, City Attorney, Legal Department
Mayor Annise Parker selected Donna Edmundson to be the new City Attorney and, upon confirmation by City Council on January 16, 2015, Edmundson became the first woman to hold the position. She has nearly 30 years of experience with the City Legal Department.
“With just a year left in my term and a wealth of internal talent, I did not see a need to consider an outside candidate,” said Mayor Parker. “Multiple employees were interviewed from within the department, and I concluded Donna is the best choice. She has deep and broad experience in matters of law and management. I particularly like that her recent experience has been in the area of neighborhood protection, which is one of my top priorities.”
Edmundson has been practicing law in the City Legal Department since 1986. She previously served as Chief of the department’s Neighborhood Services Section where she managed 25 attorneys and support staff and provided legal advice regarding neighborhood issues to various city departments. She has pursued legal action against the owners of dangerous buildings and works closely with the Houston Police Department (HPD) on gang, drug and vice related matters. Her work targeting a north side gang known as the Hollywood Click resulted in a 40 percent reduction in criminal activity in a 48 square mile area on Houston’s north side. She was also intimately involved in the settlement that ended long-standing litigation between 16 area topless clubs and the City. The agreement set new regulations for operation of the clubs and provided funding for creation of a human trafficking unit within HPD.
Prior to being named to the management position of section chief, Edmundson served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney. She has a law degree from South Texas College of Law and a B.A. from Sam Houston State University.
Patrick Walsh, P.E. Director, Planning and Development Department
Patrick Walsh, P.E., is the Director of the City of Houston’s Planning and Development Department. Walsh brings 18 years of experience in community development, planning, engineering, and municipal infrastructure management to the position. He was appointed Interim Director by Mayor Annise Parker in November 2013 and confirmed by the Mayor and Council on March 12, 2014.
As Director, Walsh is Houston’s top planning and development official. The position includes oversight of the City’s primary property subdivision regulatory functions and neighborhood character preservation programs, including historic preservation. Walsh also leads much of the Houston’s transportation and other long‐range community planning efforts, including the City’s Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan, the Bicycle Master Plan, and the Houston Complete Streets and Transportation Plan. The position includes oversight of many of the City’s geographic mapping efforts. Director Walsh serves as a non‐voting member of the City’s Planning Commission and the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission.
Prior to working for the City of Houston, Walsh served as the Director of Transportation and Long‐Range Planning for the City of Sugar Land. In this role, he led Sugar Land’s long‐range planning efforts, completing updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive Mobility Plan, and Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. He also served as Sugar Land’s Assistant City Engineer and Interim City Engineer, with a significant focus on planning, subdividing, design, and construction of community development projects. Walsh’s experience extends to a number of other areas including: capital projects, freight rail planning and coordination, state and federal transportation funding, and TxDOT highway expansions. He previously worked for MWH, Inc., as an environmental engineering consultant.
Mr. Walsh received a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and a Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Walsh is a native Houstonian.
Robin Curtis, Inspector General, Legal Department
Robin Curtis is the Inspector General overseeing the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of Houston. Among other responsibilities, OIG investigates fraud, waste, abuse, discrimination, retaliation and whistle-blower concerns. Ms. Curtis is proud to help keep integrity in City government.
Before coming to the City, Ms. Curtis was an officer at Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Earlier still, Ms. Curtis worked for Baker Botts, LLP. She is a board-certified labor and employment attorney.
Ms. Curtis is a “Fighting Owl” from Rice University and enjoys sports, bridge-playing, book club, and trips to the theatre with her husband, son and daughter.
We are your Center for Excellence!
Website: http://www.houstontx.gov/ldc/
Location: 4501 Leeland Street, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 832-395-4900
Facebook: facebook.com/COHLDC
Twitter: @cohldc