The Best Strategies for Developing Unbelievably Successful Geotechnical Teams – Ep 105

In this episode, we talk with Gohe A. Metaferia  M.A.Sc., P.Eng., a director of Geotechnical Practice at AtkinsRéalis. He shares insights on how to build and lead successful geotechnical teams, promote innovation and collaboration on complex projects, and integrate international standards into engineering practices. ***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.*** Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Gohe: What key qualities do you consider essential when assembling successful geotechnical teams? How do you create a culture of innovation and collaboration within your team, especially on complex projects involving deep foundations and slope stability? Can you describe a challenging project where your leadership significantly impacted the outcome? Can you describe three ways to solve a problem that involve the key parties coming together to discuss what the solution means to them? What strategies have you used to manage and oversee multiple projects across different regions? How has your work with the University of Ottawa's Civil Engineering Curriculum Advisory Board influenced your leadership approach in geotechnical engineering? How do you ensure your geotechnical solutions are effective and sustainable for road and rail infrastructure projects? What is the importance of soil improvement techniques in your field? How do you incorporate international standards and practices into your projects? What final piece of advice would you give to engineers aspiring to become leaders in the field of geotechnical engineering? Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About the Best Strategies for Developing Unbelievably Successful Geotechnical Teams: A crucial quality for assembling a successful geotechnical engineering team is having an advocate who understands the intricacies of geotechnical work and can effectively communicate its value to stakeholders, ensuring project acceptance and progress. To cultivate a culture of innovation and collaboration within your team on complex projects like deep foundations and slope stability, emphasize open communication, encourage diverse perspectives, and support creative problem-solving approaches. Effective leadership in a challenging project can significantly impact outcomes by aligning stakeholders, clarifying roles, and encouraging collaboration among team members from different disciplines. This approach helps resolve ambiguities and focuses efforts toward achieving shared goals, leading to successful project outcomes. To solve a problem together, it's crucial to bring key stakeholders into discussions where they can share their perspectives on what the solution should achieve. This might involve workshops to integrate diverse viewpoints, forming joint task forces for collaborative analysis and solution development, and holding regular meetings to ensure ongoing alignment and adjustment as needed. To manage multiple projects across regions effectively, use clear communication, robust project tools, and regular updates with local teams. Technology helps track progress efficiently, ensuring alignment with project goals and timely problem-solving. Working with the University of Ottawa's Civil Engineering Curriculum Advisory Board has influenced Gohe's leadership approach in geotechnical engineering by aligning it with emerging educational and technological trends, ensuring readiness to address industry challenges effectively. To ensure effective and sustainable geotechnical solutions for road and rail infrastructure projects, engineers integrate comprehensive analyses of subsurface conditions, cross-sectional data, and modeling with considerations like time, cost, operational constraints, and environmental impact.