Member of the Week for October 24, 2022 Nancy Bartlett

About Nancy Powell Bartlett NSA-North Texas Member of the Week for October 24, 2022

Nancy’s clients declare that she is highly effective in collaborating with organizational leaders because she has served in that very capacity herself!  She’s done what they do:  led high impact teams through the discovery of real-world solutions with real-world organizational results.  Nancy hasn’t just talked about it – she’s done it! Her expertise is Accountability and its impact on Organizational Performance and Culture Change.

For over three decades Nancy led internal teams and collaborated with community leaders to achieve verifiable results.  Prior to forming her own company, Bartlett Alliance, in January 2010, Nancy served as Managing Director (Assistant City Manager) for the city of Irving, Texas, leading a number of diverse city departments.  Previously, she served in several leadership roles at the local, regional, and state levels of government.  Subsequent to forming Bartlett Alliance, she served as Deputy City Manager for Public Safety and Support Services for the City of El Paso, Texas.  Nancy was responsible for creating innovative city programs and services, appointed by the City Manager as the Organizational Champion in both cities for the city’s “Lean” and process improvement initiatives and led organizational culture change.  In both cities, she helped deliver millions of dollars in savings and eliminated thousands of hours of unnecessary work. 

What audiences you speak for?

My focus on accountability and results is reflected through my work and client engagements in both the public and private sectors.  My clients are ready and willing to look at their operations to “ramp up” their accountability for results.  I have presented to thousands of people at local, state, national, and international events in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and The Philippines.  I’ve been published in several journals and an invited guest on podcasts speaking about accountability.

What led you to this career?

Perhaps it started when I was in high school plays and community theater musicals acting, singing, and dancing for audiences!  Or maybe it was when the Texas Adult Probation Commission in Austin hired me to develop a risk assessment instrument and train probation officers in the State of Texas.  Training became a key piece of my employment in many subsequent roles, as did making presentations to elected officials and community groups. I hired several NSA-NT Chapter speakers to do “lunch and learn” presentations for city employees and then hired many of them to do subsequent training programs for staff. I joined the Chapter shortly after I began my speaking and consulting business in 2010, and then I was hooked!

What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?

I’m always working on the best way to tell a story that connects with audience members, drives a key point, and offers real-life examples of how to apply it to the topic at hand.

What’s your go-to productivity trick?

Put it on my calendar!  Whatever the business-related task/project I am working on, I make sure to have a specific time to tackle it.  When that calendar reminder keeps looking at me, I know I have to do something.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

I was fortunate to have a boss who saw potential in me that I had not yet recognized. I gained a new perspective about what could be and was able to deliver high performance as a result. My business model tag is “Potential, Perspective, Performance” because of what I learned from working with him.  Those “three P’s” are how I approach my work with others.

What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?

With one wonderful exception, I spent too much money on people who said they could help me with my speaking career if I worked with them. I did not get the results I expected.  I learned to trust my own experiences, skills, and abilities to enhance my work, speaking as often as possible, paid or unpaid.  And, of course, being a member of our Chapter has given me a great education through the years of meetings/speakers we have been gifted to receive. The cost of my annual NSA-NT membership has been much more valuable than most of those other costly “investments.” 

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

I earned my CSP in 2014 in the least amount of time possible. I walked away from a high paying position with great benefits when we were still in a recession to start my own business in 2010.  I’m still here! 

What being a member of NSA-NT means to you (testimonial) 

Having been a member of NSA-NT for over a decade, I clearly find value in the Chapter through relationships with other members and the variety of programs offered. As well, for many years I have served on the Board of Directors with several different presidents, each of whom had different perspectives and all of whom had the chapter’s best interest at heart. I also served as chapter president, and no one does that unless they truly are passionate about NSA-NT!  Last year and this year, I am on the Leadership Team as the Spirit of Cavett. Serving the chapter in such a variety of roles has been a most rewarding experience and an opportunity to give back to the membership.

Something personal you want us to know- can be about family, a vacation, a favorite food- anything you care to share.

I love to cook!  My Dad grilled giant steaks every Friday evening, and my Mom was a true Southern Cook. I learned a lot about cooking from both of them. My Mom was the head chef, though, and my sisters and I were afraid we would not have her recipes at some point in time, so we begged her to write them all down over the years. On her 90^th birthday, we published her cookbook! On her 95^th birthday, we got her to do an updated new edition, and had a book signing event for her. The third edition is out now. My parents are no longer with us so getting Mom’s recipes and a picture of Dad’s “Big Steak” in there is a true blessing!

Contact info and Social Media info (full URLs please):

[email protected]

https://www.bartlettalliance.com

linkedin/in/nancypowellbartlett

214-454-8527