INTEGRITY, RESPECT AND TEAMWWORK
The Not So Secret Ingredients for Excellence
Written by
M O’Ikenegbu
September 2023
M O’Ikenegbu is a qualified and experienced chartered building engineer, construction manager and surveyor with over 15 years of experience delivering specialist advice to UK and overseas businesses investing in built-environment and innovative projects.
Introduction
One of the basic human needs is shelter. The built-environment is therefore very crucial to our survival. Consequently, due to its versatility and strength, concrete is one of the most widely used items in the construction sector. In fact, in a March 2008 article by Chemistry World, concrete was described as the single most widely used material in the world. It is therefore no surprise that it is still prolific in the built-environment. Amongst the array of components of modern concrete mix, there remains three major ones, namely cement, aggregate and water. If concrete were to represent excellence in an organisation, then the principle of integrity can be likened to water, respect to aggregate, and finally, teamwork to the concrete binder cement.
Therefore, integrity, respect and teamwork are the not-so-secret ingredients for excellence.
Ingredient #1
A key ingredient of concrete is water. In fact, this is arguably the most important composition of concrete after cement. They of course go hand in hand as water serves the important purpose of turning the cement into a paste, in order to allow for the chemical process that causes the concrete to become solid and strong. Only when the concrete is solid and strong will it be able to withstand load or pressure. Much like water in concrete, integrity is a very important virtue that drives excellence in an organisation. It is therefore important to act with integrity at all times in order to exude trust, and elicit confidence. This includes an honest individual acknowledging who they are, what they can do and the limits of their skills and experience.
Ingredient #2
Britain is known to be home to several isles. Within the County of Dorset, is one of them known as the Isle of Portland, which is on the Jurassic Coast of the English Channel. Portland marks the southernmost point on that coast and is connected to the mainland by Chesil Beach. Other than being the beautiful rocky island with a charming coastal scenery, the name portland is also popular for something else. That is portland cement as we know it today. Understandably, some may think that portland cement is a product of Portland. Although, there is a connection, it is in fact a product of the invention of a Yorkshire, English mason from Leeds.
“Portland Cement, one of mankind’s most important manufactured materials, was patented by Joseph Aspdin, Leeds Bricklayer, on 21 October 1824…”
The above were the words on a Leeds Civic Trust plaque installed in 1994 at Packhorse Yard, between Lands Lane and Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6AT, where Joseph Aspdin lived.
Joseph Aspdin named the cement he invented portland cement because when it was set, it resembled the portland building stone quarried in the Isle of Portland. As a binding ingredient, cement is arguably the number one key ingredient that makes concrete what it is. Much like the cement in a concrete, the rationale for respect in driving excellence in an organisation cannot be overemphasised. It is therefore important that all involved come to the realisation that everyone is different in their own way, and therefore considerate to others.
Ingredient #3
The final key ingredient is aggregate. Whether is it fine or coarse aggregate, they help to make concrete more compact as well as help with strength. They also help with the cost effectiveness of concrete since it helps reduce the amount of cement required per volume. Much like aggregate in concrete, good teamwork promotes excellence in an organisation. Some skills in the team may represent fine or coarse entity, due to importance or attainment level; however, all are relevant. This means that all involved need to realise that everyone has something to offer and should therefore collaborate with others to achieve excellence and success in the common goal.
Summary
To achieve excellence in an organisation, it starts with honest individuals involved acknowledging who they are, what they can do and the limits of their skills and experience. The individuals then come to the realisation that they are all different in their own way, and therefore should be considerate to others. Finally, they then accede that everyone has something to offer and therefore must collaborate with each other to achieve excellence and success.
Integrity: To achieve excellence in the organisation, it starts with honest individuals involved acknowledging who they are, what they can do and the limits of their skills and experience.
Respect: To achieve excellence in the organisation, the individuals need to come to the realisation that everyone is different in their own way, and therefore everyone should be considerate to others.
Teamwork: To achieve excellence in the organisation, the individuals then accede that everyone has something to offer and therefore everyone should collaborate with others to achieve success.