Episode 44: Collaboration is the most powerful style when times are tough, with Glen Sharman

Leadership Amplified by Dr Karen Morley

This statement encapsulates much of my conversation with special guest Glen Sharman who is General Manager for MaxiTRANS NSW. He’s always been in the transport industry and has had the happy opportunity to have a diverse career across different working cultures, with global and local brands, working for large and small companies. Glen reflects that from a young age he had a diverse mix of people around him who were invaluable for providing him with advice and suggestions, which he greatly appreciated. He started his career in the transport and manufacturing industries and he’s maintained a lot of passion for it, he loves it. He says ‘I’ve never looked back’. Glen enjoys the creative, innovative side of things and tries to think outside the square. ‘Where are we now and where do we want to go.’ He describes himself as an early adopter, a disrupter. Much of our conversation focuses on a significant change that Glen’s business has recently been faced with – having to move a large industrial site at short notice – and we discuss his approach to the change. What stands out most is Glen’s commitment to collaboration with his team - having a strong collaborative foundation with the team meant that everyone was prepared to roll up their sleeves and make it happen. ‘I’m proud of our team.’ Glen says yes, it was stressful, yet ‘when you have to manage change, you have open communication and good dialogue with your team, a trusting and safe work environment, it can all come together really well. I truly believe we've done a fantastic job.’ Congratulations Glen! Three key things Glen recommends leaders do for their teams: 📌 Trust your people, have the confidence they'll do well without you looking over their shoulder 📌 Provide ongoing professional development and training for your team, it's an ever changing environment 📌 Self reflect, what did I do well, what could I have done better, and don't beat yourself up!