Magis Men and Women | Employee of the Month
David
Company culture can be like background music - inconspicuously there but easy to overlook. Occasionally, however, the unaddressed bits emerge and turn into something disruptive, as hard to ignore as a mad rapper.
In 2018, there were complaints about toxic behavior in our sites, a product of people believing that a hard fist was always needed in the industry. This thinking is traceable to the idiosyncrasies of construction - demanding, high-stress environments typically dominated by skin-covered landmines. Our sites were no exception, 100% male and machismo.
We’ve done a lot to face up to our shortcomings. Starting 2019, there was a big push to inculcate the values that got us where we are today. We had an unplanned overhaul, including changes to half of our management team. Today, we’re far better equipped -- not just with a raised the level of expertise in every position, but with emphatic team play. It has been an immense help that half of the management team and sixty percent of our site engineers are now female because they’ve brought profound change in company dynamics. We also published our soul-searching Culture Book, encouraged more open dialogues and established workshops to help articulate the values we hold dear. The Culture Book continues to be our North Star, guiding our daily decisions. It has been particularly instrumental in strengthening our teams, but also, and perhaps more critical, keeping the wrong people out.
We know what values are important to us. We’re done with the talented jerks (or worse, those that are hardly talented to begin with). David comes across like pages of our own play book. He is the embodiment of a more clearly defined culture, and we celebrate him this month. These are the top reasons that make David special:
Open-minded Expertise
David is a Civil Engineer with a deep reservoir of experience and expertise. In the past, this was a good thing for obvious reasons. But we’ve also seen people lean too much on what they already know, resistant to new methods or materials. David is a healthy skeptic, but not a lazy cynic. He personally looks into different building technologies and studies their viability. His quiet confidence allows him to stay open-minded and humble, and fosters a positive and constructive atmosphere during team meetings.
Leads by Example
Quiet and unassuming, his presence speaks volumes nonetheless. He is unfazed by pressure, methodically adapting to whatever the world throws at him. In January, 60% of his men fell under quarantine, but his sites remained on schedule and the quality of the work, as pointed out by architects and clients, was not compromised. David made it a point to lead each site and got things done.
People let him lead them even if he’s relatively new to the team. His closest collaborators say that he is positive, approachable and respectful, but is difficult and confrontational when he needs to be. He has a way to hold people accountable, and people respond to him.
Reliability
The ability to forecast and work out solutions sounds like a basic requirement (well, it should be), but it isn’t necessarily common. It’s a testament to how much thought David and his team puts into their work. He admits that he is not tech savvy and plays catch up when it comes to the company’s digital systems, but his consistency with reporting and updating would tell you otherwise. David hustles a lot.
What makes David tick? In what seems to be a consistent theme amongst our best people, there’s always a purpose behind their steps. David's is in his family. He wants the best for them, and he knows that his work in Magis is the engine that will push those dreams forward. Lina, his wife and JC, his son inspires David. He is as clear in his objective for JC as he is for his sites - “JC will go to the university of his choice”.
It’s a rewarding feeling when the desired culture takes over a company. In an industry where the most valued currency is integrity, it's a big thing when one can look at your client in the eye and say "people like us do things like this." This kind of commitment is tough -- especially with the conditions that we have to overcome in any project.
Not for this guy.
Thank you David.
Magis Men and Women | Employee of the Month
Pedro
“To laugh often and much: To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pedro lives in Isla Verde, an island in Batangas that is a five hour travel from Manila (four hours by bus ride and an hour by boat). The distance means Pedro doesn’t see home or his family much. He is the family breadwinner and has three kids. Jenalyn, his wife, is a hands-on mum, attending to Sheila, Christine Anne and Harold. All are in High School.
He is happy being in Magis, but it is clear that he works for his family. “Pangarap ko mapagtapos ko sila kasi hindi ako nakapagtapos.” (My goal is to see my kids through school because I didn’t have the opportunity to finish). When asked what makes him happy he answers without needing much thought. “Sa Tuwing makakasama ko ang pamilya ko” (When I’m with my family).
Pedro doesn’t say this because it is the right thing to say. You look into his eyes and you see the humility and sincerity of a driven breadwinner. Look into his masonry work, and you see consistency and pride. He is dedicated to his craft, meeting timelines and accomplishments like a boss. Sometime last month, in spite of a severe toothache, he insisted on working and unceremoniously turned in quality work. Often, Pedro doesn’t take morning breaks so he can accomplish more..
The definition of success above is a good one. It cuts through the BS we were made to believe when consumerism tried to hijack the meaning of a good life. It’s not easy to get to — and we’re happy that Pedro is ticking the boxes. He was unanimously voted by his team as the Employee of the Month, a sign that he firmly has the respect and appreciation of those around him. He has definitely made our sites a better place, and its future occupants can breathe easier knowing they had a stellar man on the job.
Congratulations Pedro. Here’s to more success coming your way.
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