Leadership. There are many discussions and activities across the quarrying and mineral extractives sectors around the term, but what does it actually mean? And how is it best to deliver it within an organisation? There is no single right answer for showing leadership but a constant theme in all cases is the need for those in leadership positions to lead by example.
When Adrian Wilkinson and Adrian Charters, the directors of Land and Minerals Consulting Ltd (LMCL), took the decision to attend the Institute of Quarrying’s (IQ) Centenary Conference last year, little did they realise that within six months their business would be one of the lead adopters of IQ’s Centennial Pledge.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is one of those things in business that often forms part of a wider conversation. It is raised at annual reviews, explored as a means of enabling promotion or introduced as an incentive to keep staff onside. The reality is CPD is so much more; it is embedded in everyday working life, an invisible force that drives us onto bigger and better things in our careers.
Just over a year into his tenure, the Institute of Quarrying’s (IQ) chief executive officer is using the industry’s premiere biannual showcasing event, Hillhead 2018, as a platform from which to share his vision for IQ and what it should be delivering for its members and the wider industry.
In today’s fast moving digital age of social networks, email, video conferencing and mobile phones, it’s often easier to Tweet, message or Skype than it is to make time for face-to-face meetings or attend events. But feedback from members of the Institute of Quarrying (IQ) point out the important role that IQ’s branch meetings play in connecting people working in the mineral extractives and quarrying sector.
A quick review of the annual reports of the top FTSE 100 companies and there’s one buzzword that appears over and over again. Innovation; whether it’s a company value or a brand expression, innovation is everywhere.
The importance of continuing professional development (CPD) for employees in the mineral extractive sector should not be underestimated – it is a career-long obligation for practicing professionals and ensures continued professional competence and ‘fitness for purpose’.