Matt Rea-Rankin: Take yourself out of your comfort zone

Part of what makes Matt Rea-Rankin tick is to the act of pushing himself and people around him beyond their comfort zone and helping them to cope with it. His time spent with the coastguard and scouts is just another manifestation of his day job- trying to get things done, under stress, within a team of people.

That's when leaders emerge. His life-long passion so far has been about applying what he learns everyday to these kinds of situations.

He believes the current economic situation is forging great new leaders. He works with people every day to help bring out their inner leader. Matt has a belief that the connections between great employees, business, leadership and the community are critical but not well understood. The solution though is very simple, according to him -all it takes is for adults to actively engage and commit to the youth in their communities.

Hometown

North Shore, Auckland

Hobbies

Coastguard and Scouts.

My Companies & other Roles

In 2005 I set up Rankin Group and Media Wranglers with Christine Rankin. A lot of my career has been fairly long term contracts (the best way to get thrown in the deep end) in change management and Human Resources, -principally for Cable and Wireless (UK), BNZ, and TVNZ. I was also lucky enough to work with Manukau City Council in what has been and still is a significant programme of change.

My Favourite Time of the day is...

Early morning and just on dusk, -there's nothing alike a clear cool sharp morning in autumn, or a balmy summer's evening.

I really enjoy...

my family

List a few of your recent accomplishments that you are proud of:

It's been great to grow a business from scratch and prove that you can earn a living completely on your own merit. I have also connected with the community in a way I never imagined, -I joined North shore Coastguard which is an extremely professional bunch of volunteers, and I have worked with my old Scout Leader to build the Beach Haven Scout Troop from 7 kids three years ago to more than 30 today. If I had stayed in a corporate setting I don't think these things would have happened.

Did you celebrate them? How?

It's a sense of satisfaction rather than active celebration.

Is Leadership nature or nurture?

Both, -you've got to have enough of a talent for it in the first place but you also need the opportunity to develop and grow

What makes a team work well together and what doesn't?

Check out Belbin team types. Prof Belbin was able to consistently identify and predict high performing teams, -outstanding work.

I am busy at the moment doing:

Preparing leadership challenges for an executive team, coaching managers, drafting a resilience programme, facilitating strategy workshops with a leadership team, and helping plan a Lost World Expedition for the Scout Troop.

What keeps me up at night?

A really big event to run, and nasty people that need sorting....

What drove you to become involved in your industry?

As a kid I always wanted to be in charge of others, and as I got older and both my parents got into management jobs so our home was full of talk about leadership. I was also an avid reader of history and was very interested in the role of leaders in shaping world (especially military) events.

My big hairy audacious goal this year is to:

The overall goal is to thrive in a changing market. History tells us that times such as these are the genesis for the next wave of innovation, leadership and successful business so it's a time for taking a good look at ourselves.

I knew I was onto something when:

At age 14 I was handed a map, compass and six figure grid reference and told to figure it out. It was the Scouting Cosgrove Patrol Leaders Training course in the Waitakere's in mid winter, brilliant!

My secret for getting things done is to:

Ask my wife to organise it. Wendy can bring order from the most muddled chaos.

My darkest hour was when:

I was 11 and on a Scout trip and got separated from everyone else in a cave called Gardiners Gut in Waitomo. My light had gone out. The panic at being lost and unable to see anything welled up and there was only one choice which was to get myself under control and think my way out of the situation. The ability to control fear has literally saved my life in later years.

What would do if you were not...

I would be on expedition with Coral Cay Conservation in the Philippines undertaking research on Coral Reefs (which is something I did 10 years ago and loved, unfortunately you pay to volunteer!)

What do you do to cope with stress?

There's nothing better than helming a Coastguard rescue vessel at full noise in a tricky sea.

How many hours do you work each week?

If you include Scouts and Coastguard then I guess an average of about 60.

What do you do when things aren't going your way?

I'm pretty lucky with this, but if it's so bad that I can't change it, once I'm through the grumpy stage I then just let it go.

What is the most important piece of advice you'd give to people who are struggling to create a positive change in their lives?

Do something big. You need to shift both attitude and behaviours. Put yourself in the hands of someone who will challenge you but will also stick with you until you've achieved something. For example Outward Bound is brilliant and they now have an adult short course. Many can't attend that type of programme, but whatever it is you must face the fear and shock yourself into a new way of life.

What is the hardest lesson you've had to learn in life?

Parents divorcing, it's also an early lesson in matters outside of your control.

What separates successful people from unsuccessful people?

Personal discipline, a goal, plan and sufficient flexibility to adjust the plan as things develop, people you can work constructively with who have complementary skills to you, -and the ability to have a laugh.

Do you have any school/study qualifications?

Yes an Arts degree majoring in Management and Labour Relations, but also included Geography and Ancient History. But more important than all the formal qualifications was the outstanding mentoring I received as a boy scout. That really changed my life for the better and gave me the edge at work to bat well above my weight.

What are the three most important personal qualities you've had to develop to become a leader?

Lesson 1, control of (and ultimately a release from) fear. Lesson 2 a genuine interest in my people and the effect I have on them (good and bad), and 3; a clear view of what must be done and the ability to communicate that in a compelling way.

What are the three most important skills that you would advise up and coming youngsters to develop?

Get yourself into an environment that will push you to develop. Be on the lookout for a great mentor who will take a personal interest in your growth, take every opportunity that comes your way, before long the key formative years will start to run out...

Who inspires you the most and why?

My children, every day is a delight, even the bad days!

Do you have a formal goal setting process?

Yes and as long as the goals are long term and big they are fine, medium term goals often change as circumstances and opportunity shift. When I was first profiled my forward planning was in the obsessive zone at 10 out of 10, happily I have learnt that 7 is a much more sensible way of life.

Have you ever been scared to.........?

Helming a rescue vessel in pitch black provided an "oh my goodness" moment, but you rapidly learn to trust the person on the radar. This is where the art of followership is useful.

What comes first...success or confidence?

Mentors.

The Parting Shot:

We must actively develop our youth. The connections between great employees, business, leadership and the community are critical but not well understood. The solution though is very simple, -all it takes is for adults to actively engage and commit to the youth in their communities. This simple thing will make our Nation a much better place. So to those of you're reading this, -just go and do it, and tell your friends.

* Dwayne Alexander is founder of LiveMyGoals