In 2024, as I worked my way up the corporate ladder, I landed a job that I was never looking for: Plant Manager. I would be lying if I told you I sought after this job. I would also be lying if I told you I was happy in this role. However, it is the challenging moments that force professional growth and learning, not the easy ones. I lasted 10 months in this role, and performed fairly well in it, until the time came for me to move on. Here are three things I learned in one of the most difficult leadership roles of my career:
1. The realities of balancing safety, production, and compliance is not, and never will be easy. Every day and night you are responsible for the lives of every worker, managing the continued delivery for million-dollar contracts, and then could get a surprise inspection from MSHA. One of my worst memories is working my way down the call out list at 1am, desperately trying to find someone willing to come in to plow snow to keep the plants running. It forced me to learn that this job is serious, and not for the faint of heart.
2. Day-to-day operational experience has taught me practical knowledge, not just theoretical. Many geologists live in the theoretical world, but few have had the opportunity to work in the “real life” of an operations role. I understand the demands of a production schedule, the importance of preventative maintenance, and have experienced the “all hands on deck” moments when a crusher gets buried and you’re about to run out of stone for your biggest customer.
3. Nothing ever goes as planned, so you need to be able to adapt at a moment’s notice. This involves a lot of critical thinking and listening to the people who know the operation best. Can’t load product out of silo 1? I heard there is a way we can bypass and get it to silo 4. Let’s talk to “Joe” who ran this plant 10 years ago but now has a different role. Building relationships with the right people gets you farther, faster, than trying to learn everything yourself.
Now that I am back in the world of consulting, I can use my experience to look at an operation from the inside out. Combining my expertise as a geologist with my experience as an operational leader distinguishes me from many geo-consultants in the industry. I look forward to where this new adventure will take me.
Liz Lantzsch, P.G.
Leave a comment