Meet Sarah Wilson: Empowering Project Manager

Q: How would you describe your project management approach?

A: Construction sites are often high-pressure environments, so it’s important to hold a relaxed manner that is productive whilst approachable and cordial. I deeply value creating a project where the site team is collectively appreciated. I aim to be a friend and foster camaraderie among the site team, as I find people respond better to this approach. When people enjoy coming to the site every day, they perform better.

Q: What is a strong influence of your approach/style?

A: Celebrating the small wins! I try to do this at the end of every day. Bit of positive reinforcement goes a long way. On a construction site, it's crucial to acknowledge the wins, as the focus often shifts to what goes wrong. This helps counteract the negativity and highlights the effort and teamwork required to ensure things go right, fostering a more supportive and appreciative work environment.

Q: What is your favourite part of your role?

A: Navigating and fostering relationships with my team, contractors, and clients is a key aspect of my role. Working closely with the same clients for the last two years has built a sense of familiarity and trust, enhancing our communication and collaboration. I understand how they react to stress and change, which makes the work more manageable and enjoyable. Creating manageable relationships where communication is the strongest core components results in really enjoyable and seamless project delivery. This comprehensive relationship-building is definitely my favorite part of the job.

Another interesting aspect of my work has been the opportunity to work on a site with an all-women team, which is a rarity in this field of work, providing a unique perspective.

Q: What experiences have shaped your perspective on how you work?

A: Being in situations where I had to confidently make quick decisions has significantly shaped my perspective. Despite thorough planning and scheduling, the reality of our work often involves unexpected challenges, requiring me to trust my experience and the advice of those around me to navigate the organised chaos. Gotta be fast on your feet around here!

Q: What are some ways you approach a problem/challenge?

A: I’m definitely a curious person and big question asker, it’s how I learn. If there’s a problem on site, I’ll ask those with experience and expertise in the field what they would propose to do. Considering all factors, I can then determine what would be the best outcome for the client and then can take that knowledge with me when it reoccurs again. Showing trust and interest in others’ experience and knowledge I find works well in creating good rapport amongst the team. You gotta be a sponge!

Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out in your position?

A: The role of a project manager is autonomous, yet deeply team focused. You thrive in dealing with ongoing and constant communication channels with a multitude of spinning plates.

Despite the role's solitary decision-making aspects, being personable and organised will greatly contribute to your success. As a PM you’ll work with key stakeholders, external consultants, engineers, designers, site managers, suppliers, subcontractors, councils – you have to enjoy creating relationships. I recommend reflecting on both successes and challenges to continuously improve and maintain a positive outlook.

Q: Do you have any interests outside of work that influence or feed into your practice?

A: I try to keep busy with bit of DIY around the house and doing new mini projects that involve the bare minimum in my tool belt. I’m having a baby end of this year, so creative little DIY projects like creating a nursey have been super exciting! Lots of paint swatches involved there.

Additionally, I value maintaining a balanced lifestyle, which involves managing work responsibilities effectively while ensuring time for personal interests and well-being. This balance is crucial in project management and helps me stay focused and motivated.

Read about one of Sarah's recent projects here - Gallagher Insurance Flagship Office.



Contact Sarah:
Sarah Wilson - Project Manager
sarahw@catalyst-group.co.nz | +64 27 391 6347