Reflections on a Year of Engineering Leadership

Prof Doug HargreavesMr Peter Evans

“A leader who bases their leadership on a strong set of values will create an environment where people have a sense of Belonging, a sense of Identity and a sense of Purpose”

B.I.P

“People do the work and any organisational structure should enable people to do their work”

“People Matter”

“All business is People Business” – “Herding Cats”

(Some) Values that underpin B.I.P.

• Openness• Transparency• Listen/hear/act• Honest communication• Consistency/persistence• Passion• Servant spirit• Fair but firm

Congress Debate over 2 days (1)

• Preparation – process of debate• Question time before debate starts (clarification)• Substantive motion then many proposed amendments• Adjourn debate before time (I perceived uneasiness but people didn’t know what to do)• Resume debate next day – more proposed amendments• Final vote

Congress Debate over 2 days (2)

• Very positive feedback – “We didn’t get what we wanted but we were given plenty of opportunity to present our case, we cannot complain about the process” and “You have led this debate with complete openness and transparency, well done” and “I am so proud of our profession in that there was good rational debate without degenerating into a ‘slanging’ match” • Values – openness, transparency, listen/hear/act, persistency and consistency

Regional Group meetings

• A set discussion topic

• I perceive that people want to discuss another topic, and so we did

• “You were listening and heard the mood of the discussion and acted upon it; the mark of a good leader, in my opinion”

• Values – listening/hearing/acting

Sustainable Population

• Australian population to increase markedly in the next 40 years

• Major implications for the engineering and allied professions

• Discussion with about 20 groups around Australia

• The EA submission to the Federal Minister was based on member input – many other submissions based on the thinking of the executive of that organisation.

• Values – listening, engagement with membership

“I am so pleased that our paths have crossed; I have learned so much about valuing people and

the impacts that result”

Overall Reflections

• An extremely busy but satisfying and fulfilling year

• Values underpinned all that I did and in so many ways I received many compliments for the manner in which I led Engineers Australia in 2010.

• B.I.P. (Belonging, Identity and Purpose)

Questions/Comments

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