Oleg Litovchenko: I teach my employees to look a few steps ahead

We continue the “Frankly speaking” section. Its heroes are employees of the Mosmetrostroy group of companies, who share their rules of life with readers and speak honestly about themselves. This time we talked with the General Director of SMU-6 Metrostroy LLC Oleg Litovchenko. He told us how his small homeland differs from Moscow and how best to relieve stress after work.

• I am from Novosibirsk, 30 years later I am still drawn there. This is my favorite city: I spent my student years there, the best time in my life.
• Everyone in my family is doctors. Sisters, brothers - all graduated from medical school. My father believed that I would also become a doctor, and I, together with a guy from the next street, entered the Novosibirsk Institute of Railway Transport Engineers. He was kicked out in the fourth year, and I finished my studies.
• When I graduated from college, I came to Moscow and got a job as a mining foreman at SMU-10 for the construction of Savelovskaya.
• I have been working at Metrostroy since August 11, 1987. It’s been almost 31 years.
• I don’t understand people who constantly change jobs. Be sure to look at the work book. If a person often moved from place to place, then I will not take him to us.
• In my small homeland, people are different - they have less fuss, unlike Muscovites. It is enough to drive 100-150 kilometers from the capital - the residents are more open and sincere.
• The number of SMU-6 staff reached 1200 people. I always attend interviews in person. And now, when I became the general director, and before - when I was the chief engineer.
• My day starts early - at around 6:30 I’m already at my workplace.
• I used to travel often, including abroad. Now I try to travel around Russia - I no longer need other countries.
• In any drawing I see all its shortcomings. And I always try to improve the project based on my experience. I come from the old school - at that time you could make your own decisions. Then this was welcomed - we were given more initiative.
• The Moscow subway used to be the best in the world - and now we continue to build the most beautiful metro.
• Colleagues appreciate me because I never lie.
• I lack knowledge of a foreign language. I only learned it at school. In this I would like to be better - not as the head of SMU, but simply as a person.
• My main reference point is my father. He was a very good person and I looked up to him. Both as a person and as a professional. My father worked as a director of a plant in Siberia.
• I have two sons: one is 21 years old, the other is 14. The eldest chose the profession of a doctor, the youngest, most likely, will also be a doctor. And my wife is a doctor.
• My father taught me the most important rule, and I teach this to my employees: “You need to look a few steps ahead.”
• At interviews I always say: “I don’t promise mountains of gold, but our work is very interesting.” Everything else will depend on the person.
• I would not want my children to go to Metrostroy. Too hard work.
• Fishing provides an outlet, rest for the brain and soul. The work is exciting, but also nervous, so whenever possible I go fishing. This happens rarely, but once a year I definitely visit fishing places - Murmansk or Astrakhan. Recently I caught a pike weighing seven kilograms on the Oka River in the Ryazan region. Personal record - 27 kilograms som.