LEADING a company in your late 20s is no easy task. Most of the time, you have to deal with clients and employees who are older or more experienced than you.
"The job is both challenging and exciting. It is challenging because you need to lead people with different backgrounds and personalities, at the same time, it is exciting because you see the potential what the group can do if you harness the potential of each person properly," said Engineer Glenn Jay Reston, president of Davao Merqs Electrical Services, Inc. (Merqs).
Reston said the engineering side of the job itself is also a challenge. However, he said the job is rewarding in a way they are able to provide employment to other people.
"There is a sense of fulfillment when you are able to give people a means to provide for their families," he said.
Reston shared that another challenge in his job is he usually has to deal with those who are older and more experienced than him. However, with his previous jobs, he was able to learn how to deal with them.
"You do not contradict them but at the same time you find a way to properly introduce new ideas or trends to them," he said, adding that there are still those older or experienced individuals who are open to listening to suggestions coming from a young business leader like him.
He also underscored the importance of showing them what you are capable of doing.
"If you can show them what you are capable of doing, you will be able to gain their respect. But if you do not know how to go about in doing certain things, be humble enough to ask for their ideas or suggestions," Reston said, adding that learning goes both ways between him and those who are older and experienced than him.
However, Reston pointed out that at the beginning it was not easy to deal with them because it would come out that he challenges their knowledge.
Respect also plays a key role in Reston's leadership in the company, which is a partnership between him and his friends.
"We ensure that there is a level of respect among us. When they have suggestions or ideas, these are taken into consideration. I may be the president of the company but since we are a group of friends who established this company, not all decisions are always made by me," Reston said.
He is also very hands-on in the business to the point that he makes sure to know and understand the job that is being done by the laborers.
"It is not going to be easy to manage them (laborers) and give them deadlines if you do not know and understand what they are doing. I see to it before I give them the deadline they can deliver what is asked of them," he said.
"If I do not do that, I will impose pressure on them, which is not good. I see to it their potentials are maximized and at the same time they are not burdened," Reston said.
Lastly, the Merqs president advised young business leaders like him to follow their dreams and find what makes them happy.
"Never be afraid to fail and take risks. If you are nervous much better because it means that you have big dreams," he said.