The latest episode of Full Production was one that should inspire anyone who’s been in the industry for a while. I had the chance to speak with Bob Besley of Silver City Minerals in NSW. Bob is a man who has seen it all in the industry: the ups and downs; the good, the bad and the ugly.
Our chat was a bit brief, as Bob is someone who, like many in our industry, doesn’t have much free time. But throughout the episode, I listened intently as Bob described his days working at the Cobar and Broken Hill mining sites, the latter of which is home to one of the world’s largest accumulations of silver, lead and zinc.
One thing that Bob mentioned that stuck with me was about how important it is to have quality workers at a mining site. This might seem a bit obvious to some, but it’s a golden rule for those in the industry. Having loyal, hardworking and tenacious employees and managers is probably the most important thing you can do for the health of your worksite.
This is something I’m trying my hardest to promote at FACE Contracting and with my podcast, Full Production. It’s not the easiest thing to wrangle people together every week for interviews that sometimes stretch over an hour. But I believe that it’s helping to bring people together in our industry and instil a sense of camaraderie and fellowship where it is desperately needed.
If you’re in the mining industry, there’s one thing you can do today that might make a world of difference for your work experience. Ask yourself: how are you making your worksite a better place for everyone around you?
This doesn’t just apply to upper management. If you’re a new guy, you can certainly do your part to promote team cohesion. Besides being a pleasant person, consider extra responsibilities you can take on to take the load off another guy. Or think about how you’re conducting yourself — are you being professional and courteous? Are you setting a good example for any new guys coming through?
Of course, upper management always needs to consider how it is keeping the spirit of the team alive. We all struggle with this. Most days we just want to get the job done and go home without thinking too much of the big picture. Don’t let yourself get broken down by the stress of the job, however. Think of what you can be doing to make the worksite a more comfortable place for everyone else. Providing opportunities like networking, off-site meetups and professional development are all ways we can help each other succeed.
Hopefully, these suggestions don’t come off as too self-righteous; I know it’s my job as much as anyone else’s to motivate the new generation of miners. I just hope that the young guys get as much out of the industry as me and my peers have.
Listen to our entire conversation here.
