Public Works Management

Book excerpt: Public works management requires a balance of two essential components: technical expertise and leadership skills—neither of which are adequately covered in a traditional classroom. In Public Works Management: Things They Never Taught in School, Jim Nichols goes beyond the blackboard as he shares his more than 17 years in local government executive management. Nichols unpacks the critical soft skills necessary for exceptional leadership, addressing key issues that managers face at all levels of experience. From workplace culture and employee performance to external communications and public perception, Nichols lays the groundwork to help managers navigate roadblocks and, ultimately, achieve their organizational (and even personal) goals.