An interview with...Rod Fraser

Hi Rod, thank you for your time today! Firstly, to help people get to know you, how would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Conscientious, gregarious and curious

Thank you! Now, you’ve had in interesting career working in lots of different roles in different areas of organisations. Was (or is!) there a destined job that you’ve been trying to head towards, or have you taken each step as it comes?

Definitely each step as it comes. I was never driven towards a particular career path or vocation. I’ve fallen into everything I’ve done by being in the right place at the right time. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in that I’ve always enjoyed doing what I do. Even the bad experiences gave me valuable insight.

So, thinking back to when we worked together (one of the good experiences I hope), you were always very organised with your time – clearly setting out what your week ahead looked like, and planning activities and tasks in. I thought I had bad OCD until I met you! But seriously, why is it important to you to maximise the use of your time, and what would you recommend to people that just aren’t naturally organised?

Time is one thing you think you have a lot of but in reality, you don’t. If you don’t have a goal for the day you usually end up with half a dozen partially completed tasks and a bulging inbox! I’d recommend only looking at email for the first hour of the day and the last 30 mins. Have three – four clear things you want to achieve in between and keep distractions, unless urgent, to an absolute minimum. This gives you tangible achievements that you can reference.

Great advice there. I’ve recently produced some leadership development videos and one is focussed on the importance of getting feedback. What’s the most interesting bit of feedback you’ve received from someone, i.e. that has really helped you?

Let me offer two if I can be cheeky. First piece of great advice I got - if you feel really strongly about something and you feel the need to share it with a senior audience, only do it once. They’re usually aware enough to pick up on it, park it and can reference your argument later. Being repetitive about it will make you look like a whinger or someone who cannot accept a change to the status quo.

Secondly, be absolutely selfish about your career. Do what you want to do and make decisions based upon where you want to go. Listen to arguments or contrary advice but don’t be unduly influenced by others.

So, from that the way we communicate and work with people is important. What’s your own approach as to how you work with your colleagues?

I try to have a laugh and a joke with the people I work with every day. Work has to be a positive social environment as much as a professional environment. If the people who work with you are happy and you’re happy then it naturally follows that productivity will improve. I try and root out ‘mood hoovers’ and individuals that would deflate the mood. I definitely want different characters around and challenging personalities but not at any cost.

You can’t underestimate the impact that other people’s behaviours have on you! I know through experience that what’s happening in your personal life can influence (positively or negatively) your professional life. What are your biggest learnings from your personal life that you feel you’ve benefited from professionally?

I get up at 6 every morning and get the gym done first so I’m alive and kicking by the time I get to the office. That means I’m buoyant from the off and motivated to get into the day. In the evening, I’ll spend between 30 – 60 mins doing something I enjoy (at the moment learning a foreign language) to keep my head off the day I’ve just had and the one ahead. That helps strike the right balance for me.

I was also lucky enough to grow up abroad both in Papua New Guinea and in Qatar. Experiencing new cultures, regardless of age, is incredibly beneficial in that breeds adaptability and respect for others.

Thanks Rod. One last question - if you could pass a message back to your younger self, what would it say?

Easy. Stop waiting for your turn to speak and listen far more. It’s such an underrated skill. Half of the questions you want to ask will probably be answered if you keep quiet for a bit longer. Even if not, you’ll still get a chance later. You’d be amazed how your perspective on an issue can change just by hearing someone out.