A few days from the dinner with Manouchehr Ahadpour, Victoria, Grace, James, and Daniel were standing at the gates of one of his busy construction sites. The dinner had been one of those epiphanies, listening to intriguing stories told by Manouchehr about things they wished to know by direct experience.
After dinner, they called Manuchehr, who invited them to visit one of his ongoing projects-a big commercial development. The ever-mentor, Manouchehr, received them very warmly at the entrance of the site.
Manouchehr Ahadpour Khanghah: (to welcome them)
“Glad you could make it! Let’s do a quick safety briefing-safety first, always.”
Following the orientation, they did take a tour of the site. Manouchehr Ahadpour took them through every location, as he described technical aspects of the process with the leadership and decisions at each point.
Victoria-wide-eyed as they reach the foundation-:
“Manouchehr, since dinner we’ve been talking nonstop about how you run your sites. How do you ensure quality and safety on such a huge project?”
Manuchehr Ahadpour Khanghah (smiling):
“Great question. Quality and safety are non-negotiable. On quality, it is about setting expectations early-working with reliable suppliers, using top materials, and detailed planning. But it also comes with a culture of making everyone responsible for quality. You empower your team because you just cannot be everywhere at one time. “
James (curious as they approach a structural frame):
“And what about working abroad? Every country’s different-how do you manage cultural differences on site?”
Manuchehr Ahadpour:
“Cultural differences are tricky but rewarding. Each country does things in its own particular way. You have to learn and respect the local culture. In some places, it is all about hierarchy, and the workers want you to tell them exactly what you want them to do. In others, a more collective approach will work best. The key is to listen and adjust your style.
Victoria:
“Was it hard to get used to in the beginning?”
Manuchehr:
“Definitely. For example, in Southeast Asia, workers were holding back on mentioning any issues because they did not wish to appear disrespectful. I had to provide them with the appropriate atmosphere to express themselves freely. When trust is forged, everything runs smooth.”
Daniel did not say anything for a moment. “That must be pretty challenging to deal with day in and day out. What’s the most significant challenge you face on a daily basis?”
Manouchehr nodded. “Yes, managing expectations is a big part of the job. Clients always want things done quick, fast, and on budget, but delays, extra costs, and surprises happen. The key is talking to the client-keeping them informed and being honest about any issues that may arise.
Grace laughed and shook her head. “Like anything ever goes according to plan!
Manouchehr laughed as well. “Almost never! But that’s what makes it interesting. Early in my career, we were running behind schedule on a project to build a commercial center. At the time, I thought pushing the team harder would do some good; instead, mistakes started happening, and we almost experienced some safety problems. That’s when I learned that sometimes, instead of pushing forward, you need to step back. We took a break, made a new plan, and ended up finishing on time.”
The graduates looked at one another in a mixture of impressions at how modest Manouchehr was.
James:
“I love that-slow down to speed up. Sometimes it is easy to get lost in the deadlines and to forget the big picture.”
Manouchehr Ahadpur:
“Exactly. Especially on the international side, flexibility and patience are two virtues. Other regulations, climates, even politics affect a project. It’s all about adapting-and listening to local teams, who often know things we won’t even think about.”
Victoria:
“How do you balance that with the pressure to innovate? The industry’s changing so fast.”
Manouchehr:
“Innovation is a must, but it should make sense for the project and the region. Just because it works in A doesn’t mean it will work in B. We have taken some eco-friendly techniques and advanced software on board for some projects, but only when it’s appropriate for that environment. Innovation for innovation’s sake creates unnecessary risks.
Daniel grinned. “It sounds like you’ve got it all worked out, Manouchehr!”
Manouchehr smiled, shaking his head. “Not at all! I am still learning every day. That’s what I love about the job-every project teaches you something new.”
