Engineer Memoirs
For example, I was the Director of Military Application in the Atomic Energy
Commission and the Energy Research and Development Administration for less than
two years. And I was the Director of Civil Works for less than two years. So I didn't
really get the chance to do as much in those jobs as I would like to have. But then I got
to do them both, so there's an offsetting factor. No, it's hard to say that one was more
rewarding than the other.
Q:
Do you look back at anything and say, "Boy, I would have done that differently if I had
known what I know now?"
A:
Definitely. Sometimes I had a chance to do things differently. For example, when I was
in the North Central Division for three years, I approached some things differently when
they came up a second or third time. Annual things, for instance.
If I encountered the same thing later in my career, I often was wiser about the ways
things were. I think as I grew older, I learned how important it is to get people on your
side on anything. I don't mean that in any selfish sense.
Results are accomplished with people. The higher up you get in an organization, the
more you depend upon the efforts of the people that are working for you. To be a real
success in anything, you have to get them working together and towards something that
makes sense. Leadership is all important. There is no one style of leadership, and I don't
think that a person can even apply the same techniques to different people. Some
formulas perhaps work with most people. Your style may generate an esprit in the
organization. But even then, with each person that you're dealing with, you have to
think about how to bring that person along. Otherwise, you're doing it all yourself,
which, of course, you can't do.
Q:
Is there something else we ought to talk about?
A:
I've enjoyed these interviews a lot. Maybe after I've been over them all, I'll see some
points that I might fill in.
Q:
Okay. That's great. I've had a great time. Thanks a lot.
A:
Well, you've done a great job on it.
Q:
Thank you.
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