16th February 2021
Stories from an Inspiring Leader – Tony Fryer
Tony Fryer, Software Development Manager, GreenPath Financial Wellness
Tony said something to me that I’ve never heard another manager say in my many years as a software developer. He said that the people on his team are the most important priority to him. Not the work, not the IT outlook in a number of years, not the code; but the People. Tony is inspiring and motivating in his communication. He does not hide the hard truths but uses them to inspire to think big.
When I found out my boyfriend’s mom passed away, I wasn’t sure if I would have to leave work early to be with him. When I let Tony know about it, he showed sympathy and said no problem; and didn’t care if I would have to leave early for the day. Tony has a lot of empathy and humanity! My dad currently suffers from heart failure and recently I needed to be available for him and my mom for doctor visits, etc. Tony empathized with our situation and provided moral support in our one-on-one meetings. Since the first time I shared the information with him, he always asks how my dad is doing. I think that is one of the awesome things about Tony. He really cares about his team members on a human level. Tony works in Mountain time while his entire team works in Eastern time. He makes sure he is available in early hours so his team is productive. He never complained once and makes it look like he is in the same time zone.
Endorsement
“When I started working with Tony, what kind of leader he is was immediately apparent. Tony shies away from praise and credit, instead reminding praise-givers that his team is responsible for any successes. I’ve seen members of his team doubt themselves at times, as we humans tend to do, and Tony is always there to remind them of their skills and talents. He is a developer, not only in the software sense, but in the human sense. Tony can see each person’s potential and is passionate about helping them realize it too.”
About Inspiring Leaders
The extract above is taken from the Inspiring Leaders 2020 initiative which recognised exceptional leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic. You can download the full eBook with all the leader stories here.
Inspiring Leaders was created as a vehicle to recognize people who stepped up to help individuals, teams and organizations navigate personal and business challenges, and make a contribution to make their business, their community and the world a better place.
Due to the success of IL 2020, we have brought it back in 2021. We are now open for nominations. For more information about how to enter Inspiring Leaders, dates and fees – click here.