Welcome to our In Focus series, where we shine a light on our Project Managers around the country. First up: Arron Fischer, QLD State Director, Project Management (PM).
- What is your current role and main responsibilities?
As QLD - State Director I am responsible for managing the QLD PM team, ensuring the success of our projects/people, building our brand in the market and maintaining a commercially viable business. - How did you get into this industry?
My family was always involved in property, so it seemed a natural path for me. Initially, I was going to follow in my father’s footsteps and learn a trade however after seeking the guidance of a career counsellor who opened my eyes up to the wider opportunities in the property industry, construction management seemed like a much more natural fit. - What has been your hardest career decision?
Leaving a 15 year career in the Construction Industry to join the world of client-side consulting. Construction is what I knew and what I was good at, but in order to grow and regain some sanity, I had to make a change. In hindsight, it was the best decision I ever made. It opened up a world of opportunities for me and my family and changed me from an insular and micro view of the industry to a macro view with a greater understanding and appreciation for the cradle to grave requirements of the property sector. - What do you love most about your job?
The People. - What’s been your biggest challenge on a project and how did you overcome it?
Multibillion dollar project, new country, new culture, no team, fixed completion date. Through the process of setting up the Singapore office, the team and running the project, I learnt a lot about myself, people and the importance of communication and embracing people's differences. Without my team, I didn’t have a project and I had to make it work. There were a multitude of issues we had to overcome but I believe if I didn’t insist / embrace a culture of open communication and spending the time to embrace / support our different cultures and styles of working, it would have been a very different outcome.
- What motivates you?
Succeeding and helping people succeed. I also enjoy change. I believe the world, people and our industry are all developing at such a rapid pace, I’m excited about innovations and the possibilities for us and our industry. - What is your most memorable moment of your career?
Grand Opening of Singapore’s - Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. Absolutely amazed at what we had achieved and so proud of the team. - How can clients, consultants and contractors work together better?
Communication, Communication, Communication. Keep the egos in check and don’t be afraid of having the difficult conversations. People sometimes avoid the difficult conversations, hoping problems will disappear or possibly not eventuate at all. In my experience, there’s a good chance they will and having open and honest conversations in advance of the problem saves many relationships and builds trust. Also, PICK UP THE PHONE and talk to people.
- What are some of the trends you are seeing in the industry?
Our cities are spreading out and we’re less and less reliant on our CBD’s as the centres of our universe. The idea of city clusters (i.e. 2 – 3 major hubs combining through fast / efficient infrastructure) excites me. Together with embracing more flexible work arrangements, means that people and business will have enormous choice on where they want to live and work. - What three words describe you?
Empathetic, Loyal, Conscientious - How do you manage stakeholders?
I take the time to understand each stakeholder personally as well as their commercial / project drivers. Managing a project or working a solution to any problem, requires you to manage the person as well as the intricacies of the issues. Being blind to either one may result in damaging a relationship or failing to actually resolve the true issue. - What do you do to keep learning and growing in your career?
Listen without filters! (Which is hard sometimes) There are so many amazing, smart and inspirational people in our industry, you just have to listen to them while putting any preconceptions you might have aside and I guarantee you’ll learn something new. It might not be the way you would do it but understanding and appreciating other people’s perspectives is also knowledge. - What advice would you give to someone starting in the industry?
Don’t try and run before you can crawl or walk. Learn about the industry, learn about your peers, gain your knowledge and hone your skills. Some will definitely progress faster than others but if you want longevity in this industry you need to build a solid base. - What advice would you give to someone wanting to get in to Project Management?
Project Management is about managing people, processes, problems and outcomes. What separates great from average or even bad PM’s is the value you can offer while doing these things, whether it be through your acquired knowledge and expertise, strong work ethic or simply outstanding people skills. The skill of project management coupled with the property industry, is a platform for endless and exciting opportunities. - What is the single most important quality you need to possess to be in this industry?
Resourcefulness