Books@Work: It’s All About Relationships!

Books@Work: It’s All About Relationships!

We are thrilled to include the voices of individuals who have experienced the Books@Work program. Today’s post was written by Kevin Williams, a Senior Service Supervisor at Fairbanks Morse Engine. When asked to tell us a little bit about himself, Kevin shared: “I have always had a keen interest in technical subjects. I started my career as a certified auto mechanic and engine machinist. As an engine machinist, I honed my technical skills performing machine work and building engines. Engine experience ranged from automotive, to industrial, to racing engines. Since joining Fairbanks Morse Engine in 1994, I have been involved with shop and field service engine repairs on very large industrial engines. I earned a degree in Computer Network Systems and later became involved in electronic engine controls. I moved from hands-on to a supervisory position in 2009 and earned a Project Management Certification. It has at times been a challenge trading in my physical tools for mental tools. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two daughters camping or other interests. I also still enjoy hot rodding, muscle cars, racing and many other car related activities.”

The Brutal Truth about Books@Work

What it is. . .

Books@Work (B@W) is using a small piece of writing to foster easy conversation between team members to gain some mutual understanding of how we as individuals think and perceive different situations. We use stories and characters to trigger random conversations about similarities to our own experience, or point of view. We might explore alternate choices characters might have made, or maybe alternate endings. It’s always fun and interesting to see where the conversations go. A participant might just be having fun talking about a character or something, meanwhile the rest of us are learning a little about how to better interact with them. The sessions seem to benefit us more when the group goes beyond “what’s on the page” to “what’s between the ears” type conversations. In our case, we used it within a functional team. By functional, I mean those who work directly alongside each other or have direct interaction every day. I WANT to get along well with customers, vendors and everyone at FME and EnPro. I MUST get along well with those of frequent close collaboration.

What it is not. . .

It is not book club. It is not english or literature analysis class. I know there are some of us that struggle with the sensitivity, and touchy-feely type conversations. I am still that way myself. It is not a waste of your time.

A picture of a Fairbanks Morse diesel engine, dynamo, and alternator, 1975

Fairbanks Morse Diesel Engine, Dynamo and Alternator, 1975, [Public Domain] Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons

It’s all about relationships. . .

During 24 years of marriage my wife and I have it tuned fairly well, (at least that’s what the counselor says) (joking). But it has required significant effort on both our parts. Although at this point I think I might spend more time with my coworkers than my wife. Whether we want to admit or not, it is a fact that we have relationships with people we work with. They can and should be good ones. It really is our choice to make them good or bad relationships. Shouldn’t we put some real effort into improving them, at least a little?

Why participate. . .

Participating in a B@W session will benefit you even if you don’t actively participate in the conversation. How? By listening only, you will learn how others around you think and process information. You might even come to understand what triggers them. By this you may figure out how to deal with them in more effective ways. If you are willing to actively participate in the conversation, others may learn in the same way to not trigger you. Wouldn’t it be great to never go home mad or frustrated? Think of the good you could accomplish by spending more time on the positive, less on the negative.

I think we have a great team across all of FME/EnPro. Speaking of the team here at FME Houston, I consider them the best team I’ve ever been personally involved with. Yes, I’m proud. Is there room to improve? Of course.

Give it a try. . .

Like anything else, little effort gets little results. If you approach this with the intent to get results, you will get them. As long as the conversations dwell on things like the author, characters and the story directly you won’t feel like you are getting great results. You will have to push to get to “what’s between the ears” type conversations to get real benefits.

It’s fun, participation is voluntary, practice the safe space and good luck on your journey.

This piece will also appear in the Fairbanks Morse Engine Company Newsletter.

Images of Fairbanks Morse Engine; left: The Fairbanks-Morse Catalog Cover for the Model 38D-8-1/8 Engine; right: World War II era advertisement, via www.tugboatenthusiastsociety.org.

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Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams, PMP, is a Senior Service Supervisor at Fairbanks Morse Engine in Houston, Texas.