International Women’s Day: Emotional intelligence – the secret weapons women are using to drive change in construction
We speak to three women who are shaking up the construction industry with new ways of thinking. When Melissa Campbell visited a major construction project in central Auckland it was a team of female electricians who were the life and soul of the work site. “They were spectacular,” says the Health and Safety Manager from leading construction company LT McGuinness. “They had the best sense of humour, they worked hard, and they were personable, intelligent and strong – all the things you want from someone that you work with. We need more of that.” This crew of female sparkies are an example of how the growing number of women in construction are bringing a new way of thinking and a different perspective that is driving a culture of change in the traditionally male-dominated industry. And, believes Campbell and other influential women in the construction and trades sectors, this thinking and a woman’s unique skills, such as compassion and attention to detail, can help the industry to innovate, move forward, and build smarter. “The female voice in construction is definitely louder,” says Campbell. Campbell, who has worked in construction for 14 years, says companies are now looking to women for unique skills that brings something different to the industry. “You’ve got to have different perspectives to innovate and to do things differently. A mix of cultures and ages are important and together with gender diversity, it brings the chance to challenge each other, to be competitive, and to innovate and bring new ideas into the fold.” For Campbell, the unique skills females have, include empathy, planning capability, and attention to detail. “There’s a huge push in the industry to recognise these skills and differences women bring and to use them to our advantage. A woman’s way of thinking is so […]