Magis Men and Women | Employee of the Month for December
Stephanie
When I asked Steph who's job she was after, she answered "Neil's", without judgement or fear. With that answer, Steph will be the most watched person in the team. She didn't mean it as an open challenge, it may just be the natural progression for her. She is confident about what she brings to the table.
I first saw Steph working with Clarence, I was amazed. She had only been with us for weeks, but they already looked like Daft Punk. So far, her ability to develop and nurture relationships has been consistent throughout the company, our men say she is empathetic, committed to relating to others no matter who they are in the company. She is on-point and on-time, showing respect for her craft and others. Because people like working with her, she gets things done.
I knew without question that Steph would earn everyone's confidence and trust. We can't wait to see where that empathy takes Steph next.
Magis Men and Women | Employee of the Month for November
Clarence
Two weeks ago, we got a call that no one wants to get. Clarence was brought to the hospital. The news hit us hard — Clarence is well-liked around the company. The type of person people rally around.
I arrived in the hospital to find three members of his team in the waiting room, waiting for initial readings of his MRI. We sat for about an hour and I listened to the inevitable analysis of the ill effects of aging, cigarettes and booze. Every one becomes a health expert in these moments. They surely weren’t wrong, but I couldn’t help think about the stress Clarence put on himself.
Clarence approaches his work with immense pride. This may sound like the most greased work-attitude cliché, but in this case it is a cliché because it’s true. His output shows it.. He is a stickler for timelines -- which exacerbated every December, when he fulfills his promise to be with his daughter in Masbate every Christmas. The Philippines can be harsh for results-driven people, one does get challenged every step of the way. Clarence is more tightly wound than our other foremen.
When Clarence was wheeled in, he apologized for alarming us all. He reassured us that he felt strong and well. He wanted to get back to work. Again, he wasn’t saying this because it was the macho thing to say — he meant it.
We’re recognizing Clarence not because of his getting sick. We’re celebrating him for the consistency of his values — how they hold up during good and bad times. He’s a valued member of our team, and if we could give him our Employee of the Month regularly, we probably would.
There are valuable things we can learn from him. Here are our Top 3:
Leader of Men
As a leader, Clarence learned that two things drive success: Results and relationships. If he sacrificed relationships in order to get results, his people won’t follow him to the next projects. If sacrificed results to keep harmonious relationships, he would be merely covering bad body odor with a 24-hour deodorant.
Clarence runs effective teams. He favors small and hardened teams over large, supervision-needy ones. He walks the talk of good leadership - showing up for work with a fire in his belly and the joy in his eyes. He creates a supportive, team-oriented environment, but is confrontational when the gloves need to come off. He moves fast, and gets people to understand the importance of goals and timelines.
The PIC position has been a risky position to fill — sticking the wrong person in the role can have serious reverberations on the company. Over the years, Clarence has proven to be a stellar PIC.
Initiative and Drive
Clarence worked in an affiliate company for seven years before it was absorbed by Magis. He started as a steelman before learning other trades. The initiative to master different roles gave him an in-depth understanding of construction, making him a natural candidate for a bigger role. He became a foreman in 2014, and was promoted to PIC in 2020.
Clarence is conscious, almost apologetic, that he stopped schooling after high school. If he weren’t so open about it, one wouldn’t know. His technical knowledge is strong and his judgment is sound. He’s one of the few foremen who can effectively forecast materials and plan projects, and mitigate issues along the way.
Purpose-driven
Clarence is driven by Khrezel, his daughter. She is eleven, and is the top student in Marintoc Mobo Elementary School in Masbate. Clarence lights up when he talks about Khrezel, and is proud of her early achievements. He will see to it that she finishes her schooling. We would love to help him realize his dream.
Here’s to a strong return, Clarence. And a meaningful celebration with Khrezel. She should be incredibly proud. We are.
Magis Men and Women | Employee of the Month for October
Gener
Gener probably weened more people from alcohol than rehab. During the early days of Magis, I came to know Gener as the guy who never made salary advances. He stood out — almost all of his peers would run out of money before mid-week, many because of alcohol, but Gener kept his house in order. We stopped allowing salary advances in 2016. This was partly because of Gener. In our minds, if he could manage his money well, then others could do it too.
We’ve had less folks hung-over on Mondays since then.
Gener has always been the adult in the room. Even when he was new to Magis, there was a reassurance that one got by having him in our sites. Looking back, I’m not sure why. Perhaps it was his presence and carriage (he was a former security guard). It could’ve been his seriousness. Looking at Gener in the eye, you see a sense of purpose and intent. This guy will do exactly what he says he will.
Gener has become one of our most trusted and reliable men. Even if he’s graduated to a foreman role, he’s still one of our best carpenters. Every so often he is personally requested by the country’s pre-eminent modernist architect to do work in his home, having worked on the family’s cabinetry for decades. He is likewise specified by a celebrated interior architect who is known for her demanding standards and details. Gener does fabulous work. The attention he gives to how lines meet and edges terminate shows a sense of pride that reminds me of the furniture makers of old.
This is a remarkable accomplishment considering he learned only from experience in the renowned fit-out firm MDCC back in 1989. Prior to this, Gener was schooled as a diesel mechanic and worked as a security personnel in the International Port of Manila. Talk about a successful pivot!
Gener is our Employee of the Month for September because his commitment and dependability came through yet again during the nth (I seriously forgot the number) lockdown. In spite of reduced size (and two positive COVID cases) in his team, he was able to still turnover his site on time while delighting the client with his output.
Zig Ziglar says you can’t force values into a person. You can only draw out what is already inside. This seems to line up with our experience. The best of men come with their priorities straight. They are already driven, already disciplined. These are the types of men who make things happen. You build around them because they lead by example. They pull others up. Occasionally, whether knowingly or unknowingly, they can even make people sober.
Congratulations Gener. Redila and Jeremae must be so proud of you. You’re an example to us all.
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