Celebrating 12 Years at MorePeople. Have I mastered it?

I’ve had a few messages on LinkedIn to say congrats and to remind me that I am celebrating 12 years at MorePeople. Thank you.

Obviously, I am in denial that I’m still one of the younger ones here, but clearly, given the clear evidence of the team I’ve built around me, it isn’t really the case (though I still maintain that age is as much a state of mind!).

The messages I‘ve received have led me to reflect and take stock. My journey at MorePeople is far from over, but perhaps it would be useful to think about what I have learned over the course of a dozen years?

In short, I’ve learned a lot!

That said, it feels like sometimes, the more I learn the less I feel like I know.

The bar I set for personal development is forever raising. Much like the torture of trying to get better at golf, I set a goal, work hard to improve and then if I’m fortunate enough to get there, I just want to be better.

Maybe you find the same? Sometimes at golf, as at work, the frustrations can feel familiar, even if you’re now demonstrably better than you were. Maybe a small consolation; I can guarantee that even the pros teeing it up at Augusta this week will feel angsty when they don’t meet their high expectations – I guess that’s why people keep at golf and work for a lifetime!

Anyway, what have I learned?

• Change takes time. Not always a long time but time, nonetheless. And people go through change curves at different paces. Remember that when rolling out new things and allow for those reactions.
• It’s vital to have a plan – a vision! Though to have a vision is one thing. What’s also important is that others can see it too. Getting everyone else to see your vision in technicolour is where real gains can be made.
• You can never communicate enough. No employee has ever complained about getting too much communication from the boss or the business, but people complain (or sometimes leave companies) if they don’t get enough information. Obviously, some things are confidential and for the boardroom only, but share all you can. Frequently.
• Learn to look after yourself. You can’t work for 12 years and be good every day if you’re broken. Look after your mind, your body, your house, your garden and your relationships with your friends and your family – the last two years have made us all realise this. Hopefully.

So, am I great at these things after 12 years? Nope. Am I better than I used to be? Hell yeah. Am I too hard on myself? Nah. I just want to get to the work equivalent of playing off scratch. And when I get there, I’ll just want to be a plus handicapper. Striving for constant improvement is what it’s all about and it’s what’ll keep me going for another 12 years no doubt! Watch this space!