Joe Barr - 'Leading with questions'

"If you are not genuine with people, you won't get anything. You won't get productivity, won't get ideas, you won't get innovation, and you won't get a safe building site." - Joe Barr

When Joe Barr became CEO of John Holland, he made a decision that would define his leadership journey: to embrace what he didn't know.

With little experience in rail and infrastructure, Joe found himself leading one of Australia's largest construction companies.

Rather than feigning expertise, he chose authenticity.

This, in itself, is an easy choice.

Most CEOs would state this intention when taking up their position. Few, however, understand what it truly asks of them, remembering that people do not experience our intentions; they experience our behaviours.

Authenticity is an outcome and emerges only through vulnerability, which itself requires genuine bravery.

In this case, the vulnerability of waking up to many consequences of leading multi-billion-dollar projects and thousands of employees.

The discomfort of ‘not knowing’ marks the place where leadership is most needed.

This is a wonderful conversation.

Notebook ready...

Play on!