By Colyn Suda, Southwest Public Power District General Manager

    The challenges that are faced by your electric utility continue to occur at a rapid pace. Reliable, safe, and inexpensive energy used to be the three keywords to measure all major decisions in the electric energy industry.  Today, those words now include: Renewable Distributed Generation Integration; Transportation Plant Adaptation; Smart Grid Technology: Supply Chain Constraints; Geopolitical instability; Federal Regulations and the list goes on and on.
    I would argue that succession planning is at the top of the list of challenges we face and deserves high-level planning and preparation from management.  Within that path of planning, I have found that the best advice usually comes from an experienced and trusted source.  A source I like to refer to as: “Unfiltered Historical Knowledge.” Unfiltered communication requires direct and sometimes aggressive language to accurately transmit information and make a strong point.  Historical knowledge can be communicated from an individual within your organization or field with experience that can help you avoid making the mistakes of the past and explain previous decisions.
    There is a quote attributed to motivational speaker Jim Rohn that goes: “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”  If that is true then we should all agree that it is important to give more consideration to those we surround ourselves with in order to become better, more productive and more successful people. One could also speculate that perhaps it’s more than just five.  
    Even as artificial intelligence and other new technologies emerge, they will never replace someone telling you to “Put on your big boy britches and get back to work.” Open discussions and brutal honesty are infinitely more important than the concern of offending someone and remaining silent at a time that requires valuable input.  
    Do not allow yourself to be surrounded by “yes” men or women who only tell you what they think you want to hear. Demand it from those you associate with and accept the challenge of considering a different point of view. If you currently have a source of Unfiltered Historical Knowledge, do everything you can to maintain and build on that relationship.
    Successful succession planning demands that you surround yourself with individuals who will give you the most accurate, relevant and usable information without fear of offending or misleading in the decision-making process.  Having those people in your lives is becoming increasingly rare and valuable regardless of occupation.
    Entering my 4th year as a general manager of Southwest Public Power District, I have found myself joining yet another group of peers to learn from.  Many are soon to be retired and will face their own succession planning.  I hope they all understand how valuable their Unfiltered Historical Knowledge has been to me and to the rest of the employees they surround themselves with. Congrats on your retirement Dave.
    This month, as we celebrate Father’s Day, we should also recognize one of our original and most valuable resources for many of us, our fathers. On that final note, give your father a call on June 18th if you are still fortunate enough to do so, and thank him for providing that tough love and Unfiltered Historical Knowledge when it was needed the most.
    Thank you Dad.