Member Q&A - October
AIM’s members come from a diverse range of industries and cover roles from team coordinator to CEO. Sharing management experiences helps all members to learn and develop. Each month we will feature some of our new members here along with their views on belonging to Australia’s largest professional management organisation.
Therese Fairbrother AIMM - Training Consultant
Why did you decide to join AIM?
I was introduced to AIM when my employer was a corporate member a few years ago. I was impressed with the professionalism and the range of services, such as the training and the library. As a sole trader/consultant, I was reviewing my professional development recently and realised that I should be doing more to keep up current with the business world. I checked out the AIM website and wondered why I hadn't already joined.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in business?
If your comfort zone is not expanding, it's shrinking. Keep challenging yourself.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve given a colleague or an employee?
As a trainer, keep putting yourself in the shoes of new students. Attend other people's training where you feel insecure and unsure, so that you can keep empathy with your learners. Plus soak up other trainers' enthusiasm.
Chris Veraa AFAIM - Director - Student Experience and Communications Directorate, CQUniversity
Why did you decide to join AIM?
Professional development is so important as a manager and a leader. AIM is the peak learning and development group for managers in Australia so I'd be doing myself a disservice by not becoming a member. Also, I'm a serial reader of other people's copies of Management Today so it will be great to receive my own copy from now on!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in business?
The best advice I've received in business is to never talk yourself down. As a young leader, there is sometimes a tendency to feel "less worthy" because of your age and experience, and to talk down your achievements accordingly. I had a very timely reality check from a more senior mentor who reaffirmed to me that I had earned my position through ability, achievement, perseverance and hard work. It gave me far greater confidence to “own” my position within the organisation.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve given a colleague or an employee?
One piece of advice I often give to others is to accept what you can’t change in an organisation and focus on the areas that you can. There is no use wasting valuable energy on “non-negotiables” when you could be making a positive difference in other areas of the business.
Tekohi Rivera FAIM - Chief Executive Officer, Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation
Why did you decide to join AIM?
I decided to join after receiving and invitation to join AIM as a Fellow under its Invitational Program. By joining, I felt I would be accessing the wealth of knowledge available through AIM.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in business?
The best advice I received as a new CEO was to set the culture of my organisation early in my tenure.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve given a colleague or an employee?
The best advice I have given to colleagues is to focus on removing unproductive behaviours in employees rather than removing unproductive employees.