We
asked Tony Haddad (Past President AMCTO) six key leadership questions for today’s
existing and upcoming leaders, here are his responses...
Was
there one experience that really helped your career? Why?
My
career was assisted by a secondment to manage a public transit company.
This provided me with valuable operational experience to blend with corporate
administrative skills to provide a more balanced perspective toward leadership
and providing direction and advice to staff and board of directors.
What
do you believe to be the most important leadership skill?
I think the one of the most
important leadership skills is the ability to assess matters and provide
advice/direction in a timely manner. The ability to articulate and communicate to
your audience is essential to effective leadership.
What do you consider to be the most important
decisions you make in your role as a leader?
Among the most important decisions leaders make are those based on
collaborative consultations with colleagues, representing the best interests of
the organization.
In your opinion, what is the
biggest challenge facing tomorrow’s leaders?
In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing
tomorrow’s leaders?
Challenges facing tomorrow’s leaders will include support networks that
include sufficient experience to support leadership initiatives. In
addition, adaptation to cultural shifts in how we communicate and effectively
engage stakeholders and customer expectations.
What one thing is it that a newly appointed leader
needs to be doing more of?
Newly
appointed leaders should ensure and encourage collaborative consultation among
the leadership team, comprising diverse representatives to and sustain
effective decision making.
What advice would you give to a new and upcoming
leader?
