Some recent learnings of a Managing Director (Sea Captain)

Six months ago, I relocated my company to a new office. While the office is located only 400 metres from our old one, it is certainly a step up. Not only is it 70 percent larger, but it is also much more luxurious in its fitout, soft furnishings, and artwork.

So you can imagine our interior designer’s dismay when I insisted on having an inspirational quote decaled onto the wall of my office, rather than the beautiful piece of art she had selected.

Yet for nearly half a year, I’ve been unable to settle on what the quote will be. From Albert Einstein to Harvey Specter, Franklin D. Roosevelt to The Rock, the possibilities seemed endless.

Why am I telling you this? Because as you’ve probably guessed from the title of this article, I’ve finally settled on one:

“A calm sea never made a skilled sailor”.

As the Managing Director of a growing recruitment firm that has graduated from our start-up phase, my business (or ship, if you will) was happily cruising along in the shallows, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.

Fast forward to eight years of growth, and the swells are rising and I can’t see land anymore. As the captain of the ship, it’s my job not only to make sure that the ship stays on course, but that it doesn’t crash and burn.

While I am by no means a competent sailor, I have started with the analogy now, so I’ll keep going with it. Here are 5 recent learnings from being the captain of my corporate ship, the SS Aspect.

1. Don’t forget about the destination.

When one of your crew ask you where we’re going, you want to be sure you can respond to them immediately, thoroughly, and confidently.

Be sure that everyone is clear on the vision for the business and what both the short- and long-term goals are.  Better yet, discuss these regularly with your team so all staff are on the same page.

2. Train your crew.

Your ship won’t get far if nobody on board knows what they’re doing. Instead, it will capsize at the first sign of rough waters.

Training staff improves how well they can fulfil their role, and will allow them to offer added value to stakeholders as a result of their expanded skillset.

Finally, showing a genuine commitment to the professional development of your staff will likely result in them showing a commitment to the success of your business.

3. Don’t panic.

I’m going to momentarily switch from nautical to aeronautical references. I am a fairly regular flyer, but I still don’t enjoy extended turbulence. What calms me down? The soothing tones of the pilot over the PA system, confidently announcing “nothing to worry about folks, just a couple of bumps.”

Now imagine a situation where the pilot, in a panicked state, announces to the cabin, “Oh my god. I don’t know what’s happening or what to do.” I imagine the effect on passengers would be somewhat different. As a business owner or manager, it’s our role to manage the panic internally and shield our team from any temporary uncertainty.

4. Crew mates will come and go.

My father worked for the same company for 30 years. Unconsciously, this type of loyalty was hardwired into my ethos. For four years, my firm achieved a 100-percent staff retention rate, which is astonishing for any firm, let alone a recruitment consultancy, an industry plagued by high turnover.

But over the past six months, I have received three resignations, some of which were unexpected. While never enjoyable to be on the receiving end of a breakup, the most important thing is to understand why.

Fortunately, in all three cases, it really was them, not me, with the departing staff leaving the industry to pursue new careers and speaking very highly of their time at my firm.

I’ve learned to fully support our staff with their career aspirations, both inside and outside of Aspect. While it is disappointing to see colleagues move on, it provides an opportunity to develop the careers of new team members whose personal goals align with the business.

5. Life happens.

Just when you think you’ve stabilised the ship, one of your key crewmates has twins while another needs to take extended health leave and you find yourself a father for the first time. You spend 60 hours a week engulfed in the day-to-day responsibilities of your job, only to be abruptly reminded as to why you are doing it in the first place.

As any sensible business owner or manager will agree, our people are the single most important asset to our business. It’s our job to ensure that our business provides a platform for our staff’s professional development, and the support to ensure that our crewmates are able to care for themselves and their loved ones.

So while having a quote on my wall may not fit with the overall design scheme of our stylish new office, I hope it acts as a daily reminder that challenges, both expected and unexpected, are not just part of the job as a business owner, but are actually essential for my development.

Whether you are in the safety of the shallows or in the treacherous deep sea, try to enjoy the journey.

Happy sailing,

MS.