Rural electric industry leaders define success.

• Author: Bryant, Robert W.
• Position: Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Inc Pres considers it difficult to succeed alone

E. E. Strickland, Jr. President and CEO Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Successful people do not accept "status quo." They look beyond the present to envision what might be and they're not afraid of moving beyond what they know or what they are most comfortable with. Successful people are usually the ones who take an idea and run with it as far and as quickly as they can go. They speak their minds, act on their beliefs and usually don't take time to look back or dwell on any mistakes made along the way. Failure is seen as a minor setback because they know that, no matter what, the sun will continue to rise in the mornings and set in the evenings.

We all have what it takes to be successful at something, but you have to have the right tools and support system in place to bring out your 'personal best.' As the president and CEO of Berkeley Electric Cooperative, my success has come from helping others find the doorway to their goals and from giving them the courage to walk through it. If they are successful, then I have been successful.

In the years that I've been supervising groups of people, the most important lesson I've learned is that you manage things, but you lead people. There is a big difference between managing and leading. You manage things by manipulating, quantifying, measuring and calculating. You can't do that with people. You have to use judgement, understanding, compassion, wisdom and you have to inspire them.

The employees of Berkeley Electric Cooperative are among the most professional groups of people with whom I've ever had the pleasure of working. based on mutual respect and trust, our relationship allows me the opportunity to concentrate on more than just day-to-day operations. I also allow them the opportunity to express their opinions and explore new ideas. Through staff and work group meetings, employees are able to share ideas and report on the progress of specific projects. The final decision with regard to what is presented to our trustees is still one of my basic responsibilities, but our employees are the experts of their respective fields. I trust their instincts and value their opinions. It's rewarding to see an employee come up with an idea, work with others to develop it and then see it successfully put into practice.

If I ever had doubts about the capabilities of our employees, they were blown away by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. With 100% of our system on the ground, we were really put to the test. I can't...