Joe Chambers tells Ellen Bennett what a formidable director taught him about leadership
How it all began
My first boss in housing was Jim Draper, director of housing at the north-east London borough of Havering. I started work there in 1991 in housing benefits and moved into estate management and ultimately the tenancy services section, managing tenant participation.

What was your boss like?
Jim was always known as a bit of a maverick and, with John Parks at Greenwich, was a pioneer of computerising housing systems in the 1980s. The staff at Havering had a grudging respect for his no-nonsense approach, although not everyone liked him.

The phrase often quoted at staff meetings whenever he and the housing department had been criticised by elected members was "He's a bastard but he's our bastard."

Was he a good mentor?
e gave me some advice when I was a young and inexperienced manager of the tenant participation service, an area of work that was very politicised in Havering at the time.

I went to him having annoyed one of the elected members who was a key player in the Labour group. I was frightened that I was in for a carpeting because he had that reputation. He said: "Joe, it doesn't matter to me which person you upset as long as it isn't everybody at the same time." I found that good advice.

I remember the feeling of wanting the ground to swallow you up when you made a mistake

But I don't think I would manage in exactly the same way as Jim. It gave staff a glow when they did well, but I also remember the feeling of wanting the ground to swallow you up when you made a mistake. He was a strong leader but while I learned many lessons from him, I have my own style, which I hope is a little more nurturing.

So he was supportive of you?
Well, Jim's secretary, Jean, told me once that "Mr Draper" – which was how she always referred to him – thought I would be a director before I was 35 and he was right about that too.

If you met him today, what would you want to say to him?
I would ask him how he stayed motivated and fresh after many years as director at Havering. And I expect he would say: "The money, Joe".

What did you admire most about him?
I always found it exciting to work with him because he had big ideas and was not afraid to go it alone and try new things.