Matt McLean

The longest commute I’ve ever had was 7,419 miles. I worked for a company with headquarters in Sydney, Australia and had to visit frequently—sometimes staying for only 24-36 hours, and other times for a whole month! All things told, I made the trip 23 times in three years. 

To lead, we must understand and to understand, we have to listen. Successful leaders must be empathetic, active listeners. Sometimes it feels like truly listening is a lost art form when, really, it’s the most fundamental building block.

My background is in technology and my career path involved working in many different industries. I’m reasonably new to the construction industry, but I’m discovering so much that I enjoy. I have so much respect for the creativity and progressive thinking our industry requires. I also feel a real alignment of values.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing people. My management philosophy can be boiled down to this: “hire the right people and then manage to their strengths.” Everyone has their unique skillset and their own specific strengths and weaknesses. The key is understanding the different personalities of your team and moving within those constructs to coach someone to be their best. 

Have face-to-face conversations! If I could give new employees one piece of advice it would be this: Don’t be shy, get up out of your desk and talk to your colleagues. So much can be lost in translation if you rely solely on email, messaging, or text. Collaboration is infinitely more effective when it’s done in real time.

I have my pilot’s license and absolutely love flying. While it’s not necessarily the cheapest or the safest hobby, I find it so invigorating. Getting up in the air gives me a different perspective on the world—literally and figuratively.

My mother taught me there are always multiple solutions to solving a problem. Through her, I learned the importance of thinking creatively and it’s a lesson that has served me so well throughout my career. In construction and in technology, we continually seek new solutions, new approaches. Progress is born out of creative, collaborative thinking. 

It is CRUCIAL to have fun at work. I’ve worked in some soul-sucking companies and now this is a non-negotiable for me. Don’t take things too seriously. Do the work and do it well, but if you can’t laugh or enjoy moments of levity, you’ll burn out! Life is too short to spend it being too serious or bored!

I switched industries to work in construction specifically because I wanted to work at Truebeck. I have so much respect for our people, for their authenticity and their creativity. It’s a company that truly raises the bar when it comes to creative problem solving. 

Authenticity and transparency are crucial to all relationships—professionally and personally. One thing I love about construction is that people in this industry really embrace those values. Our success lies in our ability to be forthright and completely above board.