Sue Pickering helped workshop attendees understand that sticking to traditional leadership style is outdated and no longer useful.
Building leaders and cultures through inspired growth is Sue’s specialty. Five years ago, Sue set up Develop Ltd, on the back of 25 years’ of unique experience and proven record in the horticulture industry.
Plant production is a dynamic sector. There is a strong drive for technical excellence, leading-edge innovation, and high productivity. The focus on the people side of the business has not necessarily been as high. Therefore, in many businesses, a more traditional leadership and management style has prevailed.
But there is a notable saying “What got us here will not get us there”. Astute employers are recognising that leadership styles need to change. Within the workshop there was a leadership panel discussion with three progressive industry leaders of who are already investing in the people side of the business. These were Geoff Thorpe, Managing Director at Riversun Nurseries, Dan Mahony, General Manager People, Capability, and Safety at Waimea Orchards and Danielle McBride, Production and Procurement Manager at Rural Design.
Sue led discussion about moving towards a more “transformational” leadership or human-centred approach and the tools available to shift leadership to better equip organisations to handle the challenges of today and of the future and to embrace opportunities.
Workshop attendees worked through their own and other personal leadership styles as well as what it means to shift leadership from traditional to transformational.
Sue’s workshop was received really well, and there are plans in the future to create our own leadership day for industry employees with leadership roles.
A big thank you to attendees and to Sue for making this workshop happen.