Effective leadership makes all the difference in the water sector. Interflow’s goal is to harness the power of its people at every level of the business.
While many organisations focus their leadership programs on the upper and executive levels, Interflow Managing Director Daniel Weaver sees success, and the concept of leadership itself, in a different way.
“Leadership is not about rank or hierarchy, or where you sit in the organisational structure,” he said. “It’s about creating a particular type of environment.”
In that environment, the individual and anybody working with them is encouraged to be their best. And so, an effective leader has powerful impact on the people around them, who feel good about going to work and are physically and emotionally safe.
With almost 700 people in the Interflow team, Mr Weaver believes each and every one of them has a role to play in shaping the work environment.
His passion is around ensuring every individual is clear on what it takes to be a great leader at Interflow and has the opportunity and the tools to lead in their capacity.
“The potential of our people is limitless,” Mr Weaver said. “So I think, in terms of the people at Interflow, the best is yet to come. My goal is to help them reach their full potential.”
Interflow’s leadership program was developed after a period of research to really understand their people and customers. The research convinced Mr Weaver that the only way to ensure permanent and positive change was to empower those people who had the greatest capacity to shape the everyday work environment – the people in field based roles.
What’s unique about Interflow’s program is that it was built by the team, for the team. They brought together people from every level of the business to understand what it means to be a great leader at Interflow.
It was clear from the design process that tools and approaches needed to be customised to the way people work and where they work, which for many includes challenging and high-risk environments.
The program centres around two-day workshops which bring together around 25 current or potential leaders from across the organisation to Sydney to explore their leadership potential.
After just two years, Mr Weaver says the program is already having tangible effects, including strengthening resolve around Interflow’s stated purpose – “to improve the lives of the people we work with, the communities we serve and the environment we work in, for generations to come” – as well as improvements in people engagement and retention and attracting the right types of people with the very best attitudes and approaches to work.
“70 to 80 per cent of our business is based in the field, so our people in the field can all have an impact on the work we do, on the people around them and on the local communities. They can all be leaders, and my goal is to give them the opportunity, mindset and tools they need to do that.”
To learn more, visit interflow.com.au
