‘My Moral Compass’

Women in Energy Launch Event, Perth, 10 March 2015

At the launch of Women in Energy, Dr Erica Smyth presented this speech which explores the characteristics of a good leader and promotes the importance of self reflection. Attendees at the event were inspired by her words and asked that her paper be shared with the Women in Energy group.

I have been in the resources industry for over 40 years and I have come to realise that enjoying work is all about who you work with and not that much about the technical issues you deal with. Experience in the gas industry, uranium mining & nuclear business with smatterings of tidal, biomass and wind renewable options. Australia will need to go nuclear Small Modular Reactors.

But most important issues are not the technical aspects but how you work with others. Leadership and management are all about behavior

So how will you lead or manage? Will you be able to demonstrate respect for the opinions of everyone in the team, to be an active listener, to give recognition and credit where it is due and to take responsibility when you make mistakes?

If you can be honest with yourself, after each day, ask yourself realistically, how others might have seen you? How could you have achieved a better outcome? Did you loose or gain respect today? Did you show leadership or help manage a situation positively?

As you go through life maybe you should regularly ask yourself:

Firstly: Am I a good boss? Do I give credit where credit is due? Do I stay calm and not loose my temper and am I someone who makes time for my team members and actively listens to their opinions? Do I bother to explain why their idea was not taken up this time? Am I interested in the team members around me and observe when something is causing them to act out of character? OR could I not even organize a chook raffle?

Secondly: Have I earned respect? Am I truthful, do I avoid flirting in the workplace, do I stand up for others, do I call those behaving badly to account? Do I avoid the public put down of others? Am I really there in the moment or am I distracted by my phone, tablet or email? OR do I treat others as idiots?

Thirdly: Am I a valued employee? Do people seek my advice and opinion? Do I get asked on to the teams doing difficult tasks? Do other managers want me on their team? Do I volunteer for challenging jobs? Do I deliver quality work on time? OR did I not even say boo to a goose?

Bringing women together to inspire and support each other in building successful careers in the energy sector.

Fourthly: Do I make a positive contribution? Do I publically compliment others when they do well and offer feedback in private? Do I deal immediately with bullying of others or do I let it slide and therefore effectively condone those actions? Do I think about how things could be done better and offer my solutions at the table at the time? OR Do I spit the dummy a lot?

Fifthly: Do I look forward to going to work? Do I believe in my own capability? Do I sometimes laugh at myself? and have a good belly laugh everyday? OR do I only go to work for the money?

And lastly: Am I growing and learning? Am I actively listening to others and asking intelligent questions? Am I coming prepared to all my meetings? Am I keeping up with the relevant technology, research or advances available in my field? OR am I stuck doing work well below my capabilities and doing nothing about it?

If you can truthfully say yes to even half of these questions then many people will want to be on your team, they will trust you to give them a chance and you will be a great manager and leader of people and you will be in a position to influence the discussion and decision making around the future of energy supply and demand in a carbon constrained world.

And remember we all need a sense of humor and to not take offence at things that don't really matter, but we also need to challenge people when they step over that line.

And we need to live according to our own values.

Thank you.

Dr Erica Smyth

About Dr Erica Smyth

Dr Erica Smyth is the outgoing Chairman of Toro Energy Limited, a uranium focused project development and exploration company, and currently holds a number of other directorships. Erica has almost 40 years’ experience in the mineral and petroleum industries. She was Principal Geologist for BHP Minerals Limited and then project Manager of BHP-Utah Minerals International’s Beenup Project, before moving to BHP Petroleum as their Manager Gas Market Development WA. Erica later joined Woodside Petroleum Limited as General Manager – Corporate Affairs. Erica’s contribution to the industry was recognised at the 2010 Women in Resources Awards, where she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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