Been There, Done That: Whose Airport is it anyway?

We all become invested in our work; and with this investment can come an emotional connection with our work effort.  With these connections, can come a sense of commitment and tenure in our work process.  Sometimes, this attachment can bring a misdirected sense of ownership that’s the subject of this installment of Been There, Done That. This is a mistake that many of us make at one time or another and a cautionary tale for those working in the public sector. 

We know how it goes: airport management is not an eight to five profession, with the longer hours, 24-hour responsibilities, always bringing your work home with you, etc., comes a sense of entitlement to the decisions that need to be made.  But we all must remember, this is a partnership with your board, your users and your community.

We’ve all been there – a young airport manager eager to make his or her mark, becoming so invested in a particular outcome that they become blind to all other options or community positions. I know that I did. Usually this is a situation that befalls the young airport manager, but even the seasoned airport manager can land in this trap.

Ever hear the phrase: “You can’t fight City Hall?” Hello!

I mean, really, who wants to fall on their sword over the color of the carpet in the terminal building or even what you believe to be a critical improvement project for your airport?

We, as airport professionals, have a duty to provide our best recommendations to our boards and the communities and support these efforts with industry standard practices. We can still go above and beyond without taking it personally, and we should.

In good faith, we can come to separate conclusions about what’s the right thing to do in a given circumstance. Even if you're dead certain that your position is an important or crucial step to move your airport forward you have to ask yourself: Am I really considering all the options here and are there other outcomes that I might not personally favor, but are equally valid?

Next time you find yourself in this all-too-common position, say these words:  “It’s not my *&^%$#g airport”. Repeat this phrase until the feeling passes and keep on doing the right things.