My Leadership Interview With Steve Van Amburgh, CEO of KDC Real Estate Development and Investments

1. In your opinion, what is the most important trait that a leader should had?

He believes that trust is the most important trait a leader should have. From his perspective, he feels that having the trust from his clients, and his employees is one of the keys to his business' success. How do you gain that trust? Mr. Van Amburgh says that trust is gained by doing what you say you will do, and having integrity. Also, to him, a close second is collaboration. Instead of doing the things that he wants to do, he collaborates with the other members of his company so he can do what is best for the project, or the employees. Collaboration is also important because employees like to feel that sense of inclusion in decisions. When they begin each year, since each year is different, Mr. Van Amburgh and his fifty other employees sit down and list all the things that are most important for both them personally, and the company as a whole. Adaptability is also a trait that he feels any leader should have because, to him, any good leader must be able to adapt to certain situations on the fly, and lead the group in the right direction. When the economy was in the ditch, he and his company had to adjust their goals, and find other business opportunities that could still succeed despite the ailing economy. He believes that if he had not made this change, then he might have been forced to let go ten to fifteen people. Even through this tough economy, not one employee has not been let go, in fact his company has actually been quite successful. 

2. Do you believe that leaders are born or made? 

Mr. Van Amburgh believes that it is a little bit of both. He thinks that some people are born with the traits that a good leader has, such as empathy, respect, fairness, etc.; but also he feels that as a person gains experience, like in the business world, the better leader that a person will become. He used a really good example of someone gaining leadership through experience by using the scenario of being with other people on a life raft. He said that the person that will become the leader is the one that has the skills needed to get the group of people to safety, such as paddling, keeping the group calm, etc. He feels that through experience, a person must lead to the best of his abilities in order to be successful, and that over a period of time, a leader is able to work on his abilities. 

3. As a successful CEO, what tactics or methods do you use as a leader?

As a business leader, he uses great discipline and communication. Once a week, or more than once, for two hours, his company has what they call "All Hands" Meetings, like  the term all hands on deck. In these meetings, all the employees meet and communicate and discuss various topics. He described the goal of these meetings as "making sure the left hand knew what the right hand was doing." He believes that these meetings are crucial to the success of his company, and if an employee does not attend these meetings, there are consequences. 

4. During this time in which their still seems to be a bit of economic uncertainty, how have you as a leader worked to keep up the morale of your employees, and the overall company?

His main method to keep the morale up was communication. He communicated with his employees his intentions, and told them that he did not intend to let any of them go. As a leader, he uses the motto "no surprises." He believes that in order to be taken seriously, then he cannot surprise his employees with a certain issue, or conflict, such as suddenly being let go. Also, because his company deals with the real estate market, he adjusted the principles and goals of his company, based on the status of the economy. Before the beginning of every year, he and his other constituents lay out a plan for the year, and their goals, and the steps that they must take as a company to achieve their goals. For example, for next year, they have already planned to expand their marketing because, for the betterment of his company, he feels that they need more people out marketing, and searching for more business opportunities. He says that he will take employees that are really good salespersons or finance people, and put them in a new area to market the company, and find more business. Mr. Van Amburgh believes that if he and his company kept doing the status quo method they have been doing the previous years, then they would not be able to achieve their goals for 2011. 

The following is a list of KDC's keys for success in the year 2011: