Loyal talent: a gift that keeps on giving
Out of all the resources that a company has, the human resource component ranks high up as one of the most important capital. They are the key element, the secret that keeps the company at its best shape. After all, businesses depend on their employees to achieve goals, meet deadlines, uphold quality and satisfy customers.
Employees are the face of the company, manning the front lines in their daily interaction with clients.
It is therefore in the best interest of any company to establish conditions that foster a harmonious working environment. A company culture that brings out the best in their staff will, almost always, have the resources, tools and atmosphere that allows everyone to use their strengths, cultivate their and talents and act independently.
Such is the case at DDT Konstract, Inc. (DDTKI), where two outstanding employees have established their careers and found ample room for growth — both personally and professionally.
SEEDS OF A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
DDTKI AVP for Operations Robert Grindulo and VP for Operations Roman Magat Jr. both began their careers as Employee No. 3 and 4, respectively; about 20 years ago, when Engr. Danilo D. Tamayo left the wings of contractor Summa Kumagai Inc. (SKI) and founded his own company. Starting a company is leap of faith, especially during the height of the Asian Financial Crisis when businesses either scaled down or closed shop. But both men were confident on the character and ability of Engr. Tamayo and trusted that their fortunes lay in following his footsteps.
“Knowing that the company has just started, DDT told me that hard work is the most important contribution I can give to the company. Good relationship with workers, hard and honest work without shortcuts to lessen mistakes and sometimes, self sacrifice to complete a job well done,” Grindulo said.
“It was a rough start but I strived harder and equipped myself with knowledge, dedication and hard work because these are the same qualities that is displayed by our founder. He inspired me a lot. Even when he was our Project Manager at Summa Kumagai, back then, he worked very hard, as if he owned that company. That is the most important lesson I leaned from him,” Magat recalled.
LOOKING BACK
For both men, the two-decade long journey was full of some note-worthy and memorable experiences.
“There was a time when boss DDT told to pack my bags, and the next day, I went with him to Cebu for a project there. In one day, we looked for a supplier, an apartment, and the barracks for the workers. When the materials arrived, DDT’s project was established in Cebu. He left me there until the project was finished,” Grindulo said.
“In the beginning, the recession times were hard. Instead of laying off employees, we pioneers agreed among ourselves to give one or two days of unpaid work per week so we can finish our projects on time. We call that the “Color Coding” time. While this only lasted for a few months, we found out the loyalty and personality of our employees,” Magat recalled.
GRATITUDE ABOVE ALL ELSE
After all the trials, achievements and milestones, both men acknowledged how fulfilling it was to stay in a company that valued their talent, commitment and loyalty.
“I am thankful to our boss, DDT, he is a mentor who nurtured and helped me become who I am now. I owe to him what I have now. This company has been my family for 20 years. Our boss inspired me to be a hard worker, a leader, a family man and led me towards love of God.
“Working at DDTKI changed my life. I gained the respect of many people and this lifted me up as a person. It boosted my confidence to talk and mingle with people from all walks of life, even VIPs in the construction and business industry. Our boss DDT has trained and prepared me so that I can smile, even at the most difficult of times,” Magat shared.
Given the right information, trust and ample opportunities, an empowered employee has the capability and freedom to solve problems and complete his designated tasks perfectly and on time. In the case of DDTKI, the management’s decision to promote the right employee culture and establish a values-driven workplace made their employees take responsibility, perform well, and display loyalty — from the beginning until today.