A few weeks ago, industry leaders gathered at Strictly Highways in Blackpool for an insightful Fireside Chat. The panel included senior leaders from the sector, providing a unique opportunity to explore their journeys, leadership styles, and the dynamics of the highways industry. The panel featured:
- James Haluch (Managing Director, Breedon Group plc)
- Jenny Moten (Managing Director, Regions, Core Highways)
- Rob Cook (Managing Director, Winvic Construction Ltd)
- Karen Cassar (Assistant Director Highways, Lincolnshire County Council)
- Josh Sweeney (Director of Marketing and Growth, Multevo)
Chaired by Carol Valentine, Business Innovation and Technology Manager – Highways at Kent County Council, and a member of the LCRIG Advisory Board, this engaging discussion provided invaluable insights into the future of leadership in the highways sector, highlighting the importance of culture, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion
- Empowering Teams: Rob Cook emphasised the importance of empowering employees to make decisions in the moment, enabling them to become future leaders. He highlighted that trying to handle everything yourself is unsustainable and building a successful team is key to success.
- Compassionate Leadership: Jenny Moten shared her views on leadership style, stating that making difficult decisions with compassion and care is essential. She stressed the importance of respecting one’s responsibilities and accepting that it’s okay to be an imperfect leader – you don’t need to know everything.
- Curiosity and Learning: James Haluch discussed the significance of cultivating a curious culture where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities. He stressed the importance of leaders being visible, listening to their teams, and encouraging open dialogue about failures – exploring why things go wrong and how to do things differently is crucial for improvement.
- Shared Responsibility: Josh Sweeney shared insights on balancing immediate goals with long-term vision. He emphasised the importance of a culture where everyone is valued equally and empowered to take ownership of their roles. He believes that trust among team members is vital for growth and success.
- Addressing Non-Ownership: Karen Cassar highlighted the need to combat a culture of non-ownership. She advocated for a culture where employees feel confident to own their mistakes and work together to find solutions, avoiding a blame culture and instead focusing on collective learning.
Thank you to our panellists for their insights and contributions to the discussion which illustrated that effective leadership is not just about making decisions but also about creating an environment of trust, learning, and empowerment. As the sector continues to evolve, the insights shared by these industry leaders will undoubtedly resonate with both current and future leaders, guiding them towards a more collaborative and successful future.
To learn more and hear from the panellists firsthand, you can watch the full video of the panel session here.
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