Can you describe your organisation and your role within the company?
OTOC is an emerging construction company with a reputation built on delivering consistent quality to clients with a big focus on maintaining our culture within for staff retention. My role is to provide the leadership and continue to drive our culture by ensuring to stay in touch with all involved in the business. The benefit of having worked side by side with people on site has helped me gain the respect I have from the team.
As an organization gets larger there can be a tendency for the “institution” to dampen the “inspiration.” How do you keep this from happening?
I think it’s about continuing to build on the little things that give the business that family feel. The things that we did well when the business was small by going that extra bit for your people. By personally stepping up to the plate when we have had a real challenge and not backing away.
How do you encourage creative thinking within your organization?
We really encourage our people to show leadership and take things on board themselves by thinking out of the box and providing answers and solutions to problems. We also promote onsite our people to challenge the way things are done on site. For them to workshop better ways to engineer certain work and a better way to do specific tasks.
What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to gain insight into becoming a better leader?
There are some really good books that give you a wonderful insight into the different characteristics required to be a successful leader, Stephen Covey: The Speed of Trust is just one. Also some of the biography’s of successful people who have now turned their hand to giving back to communities and people through their Philanthropy work, i.e. David Bussau, Senior Australian of the Year 2008.
When faced with two equally-qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire?
No doubt it comes down to their ability to understand the culture of our business and their passion to fully immerse themselves into living the values of the business.
Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?
I wouldn’t put it down to any one person. I believe from the upbringing I received from my parents this has helped me ensure I identify with people with real integrity and respect for others. With a great base to work from I have since identified and worked with some amazing people.
What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
I believe there has been a real cultural shift in people’s expectations of what they want out of their working life. So the challenge comes with getting your upper management to be committed to understanding what will help you maintain your people but also keep their working attitude at the highest level. The other big challenge is the training of new people and getting them to fit into your company’s culture.
What is one mistake you witness leaders making more frequently than others?
Losing touch with staff and the business as it grows. I think too many leaders think that as you develop more systems and procedures for people to follow, the business will run more seamlessly, but it requires ongoing communication and attention. People are your biggest asset, don’t forget them.
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