Elevating Leadership, Ownership, and Management: Workshop Insights with Charlie Greer

This week marked a pivotal moment for 2MNEXT as we had the honor of hosting a transformative leadership workshop led by Charlie Greer, a distinguished professional in the A/E/C industry and long-time friend of the firm. With a distinguished career spanning over 40 years, including his role as the former Director of Quality Assurance at AMEC, formally Law Engineering in 2001, Charlie's wealth of experience has left an indelible mark on our team, propelling us towards a future defined by unparalleled leadership, ownership, and management. Charlie is now an adjunct lecturer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he teaches a course on Case History in Infrastructure to graduate students from around the world.??

Everything is a Project?

As an organization, we approach all business objectives as a project. The project framework provides guiding principles that are valuable in a wide range of disciplines. One of these principals is SOBS. The acronym S.O.B.S., which stands for Scope, Organization, Budget, Schedule, reverberated through our workshop discussions. Charlie masterfully dissected each component, highlighting their interconnectedness and how a harmonious balance among them can spell the difference between success and setbacks. Without a firm grasp of all of the project components from the outset, we set ourselves up to fail.??

Problem Solving??

The workshop ventured into deeper waters, where Charlie introduced us to the "A.B.C.D." approach to problem solving: "Stop, Look, Listen, Think." By pausing to assess, observe, absorb, and reflect before making decisions, we enhance our ability to chart a course of action that is thoughtful, strategic, and effective. He specifically emphasized the last of those steps: think. Often we are faced with seemingly insurmountable problems or constraints in both our personal and professional lives. Faced with this level of stress, it can be easy to react without taking the time and using our skills to think through a problem or decision. Charlie used an example of a projet where his team was asked to transport equipment that weighed nearly two million pounds. At first glance, it seemed impossible, but with some creative thinking (and simple math) his team was able to find a solution. Charlie challenged the 2MNEXT team to think through the illustration together and even break out some back of the envelope calculations.??

Charlie’s lecture also challenged the team to embrace simple solutions. Occam’s razor, the philosophical principle that states that simple solutions are often the best, was referenced multiple times in the lecture.??

As the echoes of our extraordinary workshop with Charlie Greer linger, we find ourselves invigorated and poised to elevate our leadership, ownership, and management to unprecedented heights. The insights shared today serve as a guiding light, illuminating our path towards excellence and shaping our collective vision for the future.?

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Charlie for his wisdom, passion, and unwavering commitment to fostering leadership greatness. As we integrate these transformative teachings into our daily practices, we stand united, fortified by a shared commitment to steer our civil engineering endeavors towards triumph.?

Navigating the Seas of Leadership?

Charlie's insights into leadership resonated deeply, reminding us of the profound impact that leaders can have on their teams and projects. Among the gems he shared, one principle stood out: "Spend money like it's your own”. This sage advice emphasizes stewardship and how fiscal responsibility is an integral aspect of effective leadership, driving us to make decisions with prudence and foresight, just as if the resources were our own.?

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Charlie also challenged the group to discuss the difference between management and leadership. It came down to a simple mantra: “Manage things, lead people”. The group discussed the importance of inspiring and empowering staff at all levels of the organization to take ownership of their role and move as a team to work toward a shared vision.??

From Involvement to Ownership: Adapting and Delivering?

An empowering shift in perspective emerged as Charlie underscored the significance of "owning the project." Transforming mere involvement into a profound sense of ownership ignites a cascade of proactive actions, ensuring that we adapt to project and operational challenges with unwavering dedication.?

The theme of ownership continued to unfold as Charlie emphasized the power of adaptability. "Doing whatever it takes to deliver" became our rallying cry, reminding us that true ownership empowers us to navigate complexities, embrace change, and surmount obstacles to achieve project success. Charlie's powerful guidance struck a chord with every attendee as he added to the credo of ownership: "Do whatever it takes as long as it's legal, moral, and ethical." This unwavering commitment to principled conduct guides our decision-making compass, ensuring that we create a legacy of excellence that is firmly rooted in integrity. He gave many examples of how as a principal and project manager, he went about and beyond to deliver for clients. This message was both inspiring and instructional for our leaders as we approach an exciting time for growth at 2MNEXT.???

Lasting Impact??

As the echoes of our extraordinary workshop with Charlie Greer linger, we find ourselves invigorated and poised to elevate our leadership, ownership, and management to unprecedented heights. The insights shared will serve as a guiding light, illuminating our path towards excellence and shaping our collective vision for the future.?

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Charlie for his wisdom, passion, and unwavering commitment to fostering leadership greatness. As we integrate these transformative teachings into our daily practices, we stand united, fortified by a shared commitment to steer 2MNEXT, and all of its staff, to the next level.??