This year has proven that our industry can “dig deeper”, adapt quickly and work “just as productively no matter where we are located,” says Turner & Townsend’s Isabella Doyle in #iworkinproperty.
Isabella Doyle, Assistant Project Manager, Turner & Townsend
What I love most about my job… I have a passion for the urban built environment and my current project – the Castle Towers Redevelopment, provides me with an amazing opportunity to extend my skillset to work across a range of different sectors – from infrastructure and civil works through to retail development, tenancy management and onsite plant upgrades.
How my work has changed since Covid-19… On the project, we introduced an A and B team system, whereby we worked onsite on alternative weeks, and all embraced online meetings and technology that enabled us to close the gaps on what we could and couldn’t do. We also introduced a state-of-the-art camera system allowing us to monitor works in real time and truly become our client’s eyes and ears on the job.
How I’m adapting to the “new normal”… My new normal now includes a range of additional tools that have also increased my productivity. What I’ve noticed most is that as a team, we are individually all working hard to improve the way we communicate with each other, which in turn had a positive effect on team culture, and our client communications.
My new workday essentials are… Microsoft Teams meetings are the new normal! The benefit of this is that we can all meet online no matter where we are, by phone or laptop, so there are no more barriers to us being able to connect when it matters most.
The innovative technology or idea I’ve embraced is… I’ve really embraced the efficiency and effectiveness of the site cameras we have located across the job. These cameras allow us to walk around the site virtually and take a 360-degree view of any room. We can zoom in to inspect areas where we need to discuss and resolve issues. This new technology has significantly enhanced our ability to monitor the site and keep our clients up-to-date and resolve issues in real time.
My advice to others looking to implement this… Just do it! The rewards have been immediate and proven invaluable to our client discussions. While this technology is in common use in the UK, Turner & Townsend, seeing how it has improved productivity, is now rolling out this technology globally.
My most valuable skill in challenging times… The three most valuable skills I’m continuing to develop are:
- patience – everyone deals with things differently
- resilience – as it allows us to weather the storm and control what we can control and not sweat the small stuff
- agility – yes, things change, but what we must consider is: ‘how could we do this differently?
My biggest inspiration… The Turner & Townsend team. I truly feel grateful to be part of a team that has pulled together in such a changing environment. Together, we’ve kept moving forward as one team to deliver our broad portfolio of projects on time and on budget.
One way I’ll work differently on the other side of this crisis… Fortunately, I am back on site, which is great. However, what restrictions have proven to me is that we need to be on the lookout for new ways of doing things. We have proven that we can dig deeper, we can be more innovative, and that we are able to adapt quickly and work just as productively no matter where we are located.
What I’ve learned so far from 2020… In 2020, I’ve learnt so much about myself – my strengths and where I have opportunities for growth. Like many, I’ve had to dig deep, accept the things I cannot change, and challenge myself to think outside the box. Change is upon us, and there is only one way to go – keep moving forward.