#10 The Power of a Just Cause and a Unified Team with Bob Simpson

Enterprise Excellence Podcast with Brad Jeavons

• 30 min

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Introduction:  I have with me today Mr Bob Simpson, a leader of business improvement and cultures of excellence across a wide range of industries. Bob is currently a Defence Business Advisor in Australia, helping suppliers of defence improve and grow. Bob has lead a career focused on helping people at all levels of organisations, find purpose, build teamwork and culture and improve to create a better future for themselves and others. Summary  Bob Simpson during this episode explores his background growing up in many country towns throughout Australia and how this influenced his approach to leadership and inspiring others to achieve greatness.  Bob talks about his involvement with the Bushmaster military vehicle at Australia Defence Industries (ADI) and some of the amazing outcomes this purpose lead vehicle has achieved. Bob talks about some of the early challenges working within ADI and how he went about turning a highly disgruntled unionised site into an engaged, purpose lead improving team.  Bob outlines similar stories across his time working within food processing, furniture manufacturing and other industries. He highlights the importance to treating everyone with respect, placing yourself in others shoes and engaging them to bring out their best.  Bob is now taking this approach for the Australian Defence Industry, helping to develop cultures of continuous improvement within defence suppliers to create a better future. Links Bob can be reached through his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-simpson-7a357022/?originalSubdomain=au" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn account</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-simpson-7a357022" rel="nofollow">linkedin.com/in/bob-simpson-7a357022</a> Phone ·       0417776022 (Mobile) Email: <a href="mailto:bobsimmo@bigpond.com" rel="nofollow">bobsimmo@bigpond.com</a>Quotes 1. Well, it It took an event where even before the vehicle was formally introduced into the service, the conflict in East Timor case came along, and there was a need for that vehicle type. So two vehicles were sent to each team or to assist with the operations over there. And following up from that the the people that use that in the armed services were absolutely ecstatic about about its performance. And that was the start of a total turnaround and general acceptance of the vehicle with the defense forces. 2. The just cause that we chose wasn't hey, we're making a great vehicle to get people aligned. It was hey, we're saving lives. And that has ensued to the present day.  3. So my life has been characterized by this constant change, which of course, I thought was normal. And the country towns, everybody is so friendly and accepting and you just think that's the way things are. So that's what I took to the workplace.  4. So when it wasn't that that way well... When I eventually took over some leadership roles, and there was this adversarial context to that, that really surprised me but my openness and willing to support helped us overcome that.  5. But basically, if someone does something wrong, it's understanding why. Try to support them to go from where they're at to where you want them to be. Pass some responsibility on to say, well, what are you going to do about it? And by the way, if you do that, we'll help you just along the way.  To learn more about what we do, visit <a href="https://www.enterpriseexcellenceacademy.com/" rel="nofollow">www.enterpriseexcellenceacademy.com</a>. Thanks for your time, and thanks for helping to create a better future.