A winning way

By - , Build 176

Matt Pattinson, site manager at LT McGuinness, believes in the values of hard work, putting others first and leading by example. These are qualities that have earned him recognition as a high achiever in a major industry award.

Q. What made you decide on a building industry career and what positions have you held?

I was going a bit wayward at school, so my parents suggested a residential building apprenticeship. After I gained a carpentry qualification working for local Porirua builder Harris Construction, residential work dried up and we started on a commercial site. I loved the buzz of big sites, so when an opportunity came up to work for LT McGuinness 10 years ago, I took it. I started as a carpenter then leading hand, and now I’m a site manager.

Q. Have you undertaken further education?

I completed a Bachelor of Construction Management degree and worked on a couple of conference papers around heritage strengthening. I have a natural drive to learn so I’m always asking questions or reading and studying – it’s a great industry for inquisitive people.

Q. Your final research project won an award. What was that for?

It was on the seismic strengthening of heritage buildings. Using the latest thinking and technology while preserving the heritage fabric really caught my interest. The research, which I presented at the 2016 NZSEE conference, produced a design assessment tool that encourages collaboration and early contractor involvement.

Q. What are the challenges and positives in being a site manager?

I’ve always enjoyed the technical challenges. Dad is an architect and secondary school teacher so I grew up around drawings and technical problem solving. Recently, the bigger and more rewarding challenge has been developing people and leadership skills. Construction is as much about people as bricks and mortar.

I enjoy encouraging others to grow and develop and seeing them carry responsibility. Some workers on my current site who started with me as labourers are now upskilling as apprentices, H&S officers and enjoying their work, which I find really satisfying.

Q. What makes a good team manager? Do you have any examples?

Management and leadership are different. A leader is someone people want to follow and work for. A manager organises and arranges, which is important but not the same. I don’t see ‘managing’ through fear and punishment as leadership. Investing in people, empathy, good communication, healthy conflict management, coaching instead of controlling, showing vulnerability – these are all key facets of the type of leader I aspire to be.

Recently, a work colleague and close personal friend suffered a stroke on site. Leading well also meant being vulnerable with the team, asking for help myself. That gave permission for people to do the same. Others opened up about some very real mental health issues they were facing, issues that are actually big for our industry.

Q. What did it mean to you winning the BCITO sponsored Young Achiever Award at the NZIOB’s 2019 New Zealand Building Industry Awards? What did the judges say?

Having left school fairly early and with no Plan B, I thought I might as well throw myself 110% into construction and see where it goes. I’ve learned that hard work and being passionate about what you do pays off.

The judges noted my past awards, university studies, research and my role on various award-winning projects.

A lot of credit goes to the McGuinness family for how they give space to young workers and mentor them to take on real responsibility.

Q. What do you see as the building industry’s challenges and opportunities?

I get asked about the industry’s issues a bit. Sometimes I think, though, what issues?

I work for a great company with the right values and with plenty of opportunity to grow and enjoy my work. I’ve worked for only two employers in the last 15 years, one small and one large, and both have done well by putting people first and striving for excellence. Some companies that have gone bust leaving employees and subcontractors badly out of pocket couldn’t have been putting people first.

So, yes, you could list the many challenges in our industry, but I think the answer is to be committed to the right values, namely putting people first.

Q. What stand-out projects have you worked on?

I’ve worked on some great projects with LT McGuinness – Clyde Quay Wharf apartments, PwC Centre, Wharewaka, St John’s in the City and others. St Mary of the Angels was something very special though. It’s a beautiful building. I spent 2 years on the strengthening and refurbishment and can honestly say I enjoyed every week. To know the church will stand strong for another 100 years and that I played a big part in this is very cool.

Q. What are your career aspirations?

To keep working on iconic projects like heritage buildings, buildings with unique seismic engineering challenges and perhaps one day a stadium with a roof.

Wherever I end up, I want to be proud of who I was on the way. Someone who enjoys my work, strives for excellence, brings people together and draws out the best in them, sets a positive healthy site culture and delivers meaningful projects.

I also love how construction brings people together from all walks of life. Eventually, a site-based project director ticks all the boxes for me, as long as meetings are kept to a minimum!

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