Construcciones Yamaro: Leadership lessons from 40 years in construction
In her final regular Inside Construction column, Dr Gretchen Gagel shares the lessons four decades in construction have taught her about the industry.
By Dr Gretchen Gagel.
What an amazing opportunity it has been to collaborate with the Inside Construction team on 21 editorials over the past four years. Thank you for this incredible opportunity to share what I have learnt as a construction industry leader over the past 40 years. Readers, I hope my thoughts have challenged and informed your thinking as a leader.
But all good things must come to an end. After eight wonderful years living in Australia, and as a proud Australian citizen, I am shifting most of my time back to the US to be with my family and focus on my global work as founder and CEO of the International Institute for Women in Construction (IIWIC). This will be my final regular editorial, although the team has assured me that future guest appearances are welcome. My work with IIWIC will continue here in Australia as we build upon our recent white paper in collaboration with RMIT distinguished professor Dr Helen Lingard, NAWIC Australia and the Australian Constructors Association (ACA). I will be here regularly.
Embedding myself in the US and Australian construction industries, and now in additional countries through my work with IIWIC, has taught me several important lessons:
- Global systemic challenges: The systemic challenges our industry faces are global, not local. Solving these challenges, including high suicide rates, talent shortages, technology adoption, lack of flexibility and site culture, requires the boldest thinking by the bravest leaders. We must aggressively try new strategies, share our learnings, win and fail, and try again. Global collaboration is critical. We must band together, everyone.
- Everyone’s actions count: You, yes, you, are key to our industry’s success in rising to the occasion. Our industry culture is shaped by the behaviour of everyone within it. If we tolerate the lowest level of behaviour, we condone it. I realise that with 40 years under my belt and little to lose, this may sound easy to say, but it is not. My hard-earned reputation in the industry is fragile as a woman. Each of you has a responsibility to behave and care for one another in ways that help us shape the future culture of our industry. I am counting on you.
- Marketing matters: We don’t do a great job of conveying the importance of our industry to the world. Where is our hit Netflix series? We should receive adulation for the role we play in building and maintaining the assets that support civilisation. I tell people outside our industry this nearly every day. Do you want clean water, beautiful homes, hospitals, airports, roads and energy to charge your mobile phone? We make all of this and more happen, with tremendous technical skill and humility. Let’s be a little less humble.
Until next time
I hope you will connect with me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts on these ideas. What have I not yet learnt? What thinking has this provoked?
My deepest gratitude to editor Ashley Grogan and the Inside Construction team for providing space for my voice. Thank you to all who take the time to read these thoughts and share your thoughts with me. Mostly, thank you to the millions of people in the global construction community who, with pride and thoughtfulness, build and maintain our world.
Dr Gretchen Gagel, founder and CEO of the International Institute for Women in Construction (iiwic.org), is a member of the National Academy of Construction (US) and a leader respected for her four-decade career of strategic advisement in the construction industry. Gretchen is passionate about leading change in the construction industry and developing future leaders. You can hear more from Gretchen on the Greatness Podcast, and her book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction, is available on Amazon. Find out more at gretchengagel.com
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