Inspiring leaders are consistent.

I interviewed Brien K. Convery, Director of Talent Acquisition and Employee experience at Aecon Group Inc., who had a brilliant piece of advice for young leaders who are interviewing. He said, “Do not be someone else in an interview because then you have to show up to work as that person”.

Brien explained that he felt inspiring leaders are consistent in who they are. That means if you want to be seen as an inspiring leader in your role, you better be the same person they interviewed, and your team better see you as the same person on Tuesday as they saw on Friday.

That doesn’t mean you cannot show the fluidity of emotion that is part of the human experience, but instead that you are consistent in who you are, the values you stand for, the management style you bring, which creates a sense of stability that can create trust and safety.

A few ways a leader be more consistent:

1. Give clear expectations and be transparent on how people will be evaluated
2. Help people understand your thinking. Give reasons why you make certain decisions
3. Don’t feel the need to know everything. Be open to ideas but consistent with how you evaluate those ideas.

Brien's Bio

Brien Convery is a purpose-driven, people-centric executive with over three decades of diversified and progressive global experience. His work spans a wide range of industries and disciplines, in both public and private sectors. From his start in Consumer Products with The Dannon Company, Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive; to Technology, Consulting Services and Human Resources with Coopers and Lybrand, PwC and IBM; to Financial Services and Banking with the Royal Bank of Canada; and to Construction (Infrastructure, Industrial, and Concessions) with the Aecon Group, Inc., Brien has built a robust career portfolio.

As a talent executive, published thought leader and Tedx speaker, Brien has been featured in New York Times #1 Bestselling Author, Joseph Michelli’s, Stronger Through Adversity, the Toronto Star, American Banker, Dell Technologies, The Financial Pipeline, CERIC Careering

Magazine and a number of career and future of work global podcasts. Brien is a multi-award-winning student experience maker recognized for his excellence in student engagement, recruitment and innovation. Most recently, he was recognized by LinkedIn as a 2021 LinkedIn Best Talent Voices/Talent Leader Award Finalist.

As producer and writer, Brien hosts the podcast series #CoffeeWithConvery on Anchor® by Spotify. Episodes inspire the next generation of young talent and give students a voice as they navigate the school to work transition.

Brien is a graduate of The University of Hartford, Connecticut holding a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Business Administration, Management and Operations.

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