Consultant spotlight: Dan Wallis

Q&A with Dan Wallis

 

1. What’s your favourite way to answer the question ‘what do you do?’

I impact working lives and wherever possible, improve them for the better!

2. What is your approach to finding a work-life balance?

Anyone can work long hours and slog through week to week, but for me this isn’t inviting. Prioritising and purposeful planning is key. I focus on my proactive resilience by doing what gives me energy and I have supportive relationships both inside and outside of work to discuss problems and challenges.

3. Describe in three words what makes a good leader

Humility, courage and effectiveness

4. If you could remote-work from any country in the world, where would it be?

Wherever my wife is, Costa Da Caprica comes to mind to surf the days out and sip on Sangria together.

5. Which culture, philosophy, or way of life – that is different to yours – do you most admire?

I was recently lucky to spend some time in Japan. The way of life I saw intrigues me and seems to be based on humble relationships. Some of the rituals I saw look as though they set people up for a good day.

6. Who was your favourite teacher, role model or mentor when growing-up?

Phil Gooderham my hockey coach, tailored his approach to individual players and breathed passion for what we did. He showed support in many ways but worked us hard but fair.

7. What, or who, was your biggest inspiration when choosing your career route?

My wife. She challenges me to do something I want to do!

8. Which area of your consulting work do you find the most interesting, and why?

Working with leaders and teams. Both can make or break people, and although this kind of consulting work is a privilege, it can also be hugely challenging. People are amazing and work in such different ways, so helping others explore this human side is fantastic.

9. What are the top 3 personal skills that leaders need to possess, or develop, to lead their organisation into the future?

Coaching (listening and questioning), setting clear meetings and meeting objectives, delegation and empowerment (being able to recognise what truly empowers someone and how to share/manage workload).

10. If you could go back in time and give your 16-year-old self advice, what would it be?

You can do whatever you want to do, don’t be limited by what is around you.

11. If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed three items, what would they be and why?

A knife, flint stone and a radio (music device)

12. What’s the number one thing you want to accomplish during your time on Earth?

A happy family (I don’t have children yet)!