In about 500 days
from the time you read this article, the eyes of the world will turn
to Sydney, Australia, as the elite athletes of the world compete for
gold at the 2000 Olympic Games. People the world over will watch in
wonder at the outstanding teamwork and the excellence of individual
performance demonstrated in sporting venues the equal of the best in
the world.
I can say with authority
that the champions who compete in the Games of the coming Olympiad will
not be the first champions of the Olympic venues, and neither will those
who compete in the Games lead up events. The first champions are the
35,000 people who gave of their skills and talents to construct the
outstanding venues in which the Games will be contested.
The authority I
refer to evolves from my personal involvement with just one of these
venues; Stadium Australia, the Olympic Stadium; the largest Olympic
Stadium ever built; a Stadium that will hold 110,000 people for the
Games. I am privileged to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Stadium's
owning organization and also the Project Director of this fantastic
building. The Stadium is now completed and drawing record crowds to
major events held there. The success of these early events tops off
one of the greatest learning experiences of my career.
I learned that corporate
politics is alive and well and far from extinction. Unfortunately! I
learned that the power of vested interests continues to drive actions
and decisions as it has for centuries passed and no doubt will for future
centuries.
More importantly,
I learned what can be achieved when human beings pull together with
a common vision that is larger than any objectives outlined in contracts
and responsibility schedules. I learned what can be achieved when people
go about their work with a good dash of soul added to their skill and
experience.
On this extraordinary
project, 6,000 people from 60 different ethnic backgrounds, all now
proud Australians, toiled with a common vision borne of being involved
with something very special. These people were not just going to work
each day or simply building yet another major project. These people
were building part of our country's history, they were involved in a
task that would give pride to their families for generations to come.
During the construction
of Stadium Australia, I learned more about the concept of corporate
vision than I ever have from the numerous texts I have studied on the
subject. Above all, I learned that it is not something that can be imposed
by senior management on their employees. Rather, it is something that
enters the picture when a group of people realize that they can achieve
some of what Carl Priebrum calls their personal Images of Achievement
in performing with excellence in their work environment.
I hope that in this
story there is a message of benefit to your organization.