Talking heads: Teamwork the secret of success

Name: Martin Wylie.

Position: Chief executive.

Company: Simpson Grierson Law.


What makes your day at work?


Working with a talented and motivated group of people, and helping to support and lead their efforts. Essentially [the day is] based around the successes of that team. That really "does it" for me.

How did you get to where you are today?


Long story! I originally trained as a lawyer, but I've worked as an auditor and in a series of large public companies - both in company secretarial, then ultimately as CEO. It's a set of coincidences that led me to work for Simpson Grierson, at a time where potentially there's a great deal of change and opportunity in the whole legal market. My background has been in industries going through a great deal of change and refocusing, so that was part of the attraction - that dynamic phase that the legal profession and professional consulting is in.

What's the most important lesson you've learned on the way up?


Focusing on the key strategic issues, and not losing sight of what the end gain is. Remembering that on the way through, it's impossible to deliver that unless you have the right team of people around you, and work closely with them, keeping that strategic objective in mind. Team work's absolutely critical. The key to our success is the continued calibre of the people who work for us. We're in the people business, and if you don't have the top people, you won't be delivering the top results.

Who was your most important mentor?


There have been several people. The one who stands out is Dr Peter Troughton, one-time managing director of Telecom New Zealand, when I was in Telecom as company secretary. He achieved what at times seemed like the impossible - to turn around a division of what was the Post Office into one of the largest and most profitable and dynamic companies in New Zealand.

How have you dealt with pitfalls in your career?


By trying to take on the honestly held views of people, and build on them, rather than taking them to heart. Taking them as valid concerns and criticism, rather than letting it divert [my] attention to the personality issues. Whenever there's a bit of a wrinkle in the road, you should try to focus on what the message is rather than the person delivering that message.

What one thing would you have done differently?


I think if I had my time again I would have liked to have been an engineer. Some of the more impressive individuals I've come across have been those people with an engineering and a commercial background. It's just looking at the skill sets that engineers come out with.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out in a similar career?


There is a critical shortage of technical skills and commercial skills, and if they could get those qualifications to start with, I think that is an awesome combination ... that I think would allow people to succeed in the future work environment.

[It's also important to have] an understanding and empathy with a real cross-section of the community, and the ability to work in a team environment, but at the same time be accountable for your own actions and personal performance.

What's the biggest challenge for your organisation in the present economy?


The formation of huge multi-disciplinary professional firms and the impact of technology - particularly the internet - are yet to be fully appreciated or understood. I don't think it's "business as usual" for law firms over the next five years. We will need to fundamentally address how and where we deliver services, and what structure that's in. [We will be] operating in what will progressively become an Australasian and global legal marketplace, rather than just a New Zealand one.

What ambitions do you have?


To see Simpson Grierson through this tremendous change, and to see it continue to grow and prosper in what I think is going to be a somewhat difficult business environment. I have still got a young family, so the key will be balancing the needs of family and personal life with what I think will be a very challenging period of change.

How do you relax?


With family and friends. I play a little sport - things like skiing, trout fishing, and I'm in the process of taking up golf, which is immensely frustrating. One day maybe I'll conquer it.

* Martin Wylie spoke to Kim Williams.