Connecting the dots
Debi Marriott-Lavery
Passionate about inspiring change through creative leadership in the housing sector. Thoughts welcome, views my own.
Imagine a simple sheet of paper scattered with numbered dots. As you connect them, an image starts to emerge. You don't even have to complete all the connections to see something unfold before your eyes. There's a magical quality in how those scattered, incomplete dots come together to create something extraordinary.?
Right now, these dots are incredibly important. Faced with new challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities, I've got a different set of dots to connect, and they're teaching me and helping me grow both personally and professionally. We all have to start somewhere, and when I stepped into this new role, my dot-connecting adventure began. It was about unravelling, questioning, and discovering the ins and outs of the 'what, why, how, and who?' It felt like being the new kid in class but rocking a pair of CEO shoes (in my case, Dr Marten boots!).
After a period of silence, it's time to break it and share my thoughts. I've fully immersed myself in my new position as Chief Executive of Magenta Living. I've been styling it out, finding my way, adapting to the surroundings, and building connections with amazing people. Looking back, the first 100 days were a whirlwind, like solving dot-to-dot puzzles from my childhood. But let me tell you, navigating a new business, location, and the housing sector isn't child's play. It's exciting, sure, but let's be real; it can be a bit daunting too. Stepping into this role demands a unique skill set and approach. It's one thing to know it, but it's a whole different ball game when you roll up your sleeves and actually do it. Change is constant, plans are ever-evolving, and hey, we're all humans with our own feelings and emotions. Making those connections for our people, customers, and communities is crucial. And you know what? Learning and making adjustments along the way is just as important.
I'm fully aware of the dynamic and impactful nature of the housing sector. It holds immense potential to empower individuals, offering affordable and secure homes while creating opportunities. But let's be honest; connecting the dots in the housing industry can be a real challenge at times. Yet, we must always keep our commitment to connecting with customers and meeting the needs of our tenants at the forefront of everything we do.
Affordable housing is more than bricks and mortar. It's about creating environments where people can flourish, fostering strong communities, and tackling societal challenges head-on. It's about breaking down barriers, opening doors, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that everyone has access to homes filled with love and communities bursting with life. We all play a crucial role in achieving this, but it requires continuous dedication, innovation, and collaboration.
So why speak up now? For a while, I've kept my head down, focused on the job at hand. But I feel like I'm starting to come out of the weeds, ready to resurface and share with you at a time when real progress is being made and important things are happening. It wouldn't be right if I didn't capture and document it. The dots are starting to connect, and a clear picture is taking shape. I can't wait to share more with you. Stay tuned.
Debi
Founder & non-exec, general change maker, talks about community, stigma and dad life.
1 年I love this and you got DMs in there!
Property Surveyor at Magenta Living
1 年Great article and analogy of your story so far at Magenta, Debi Marriott-Lavery. I believe that we can only control what is within our personal ability, experience, and knowledge. Everything else is left for the universe to decide our destiny, because in this life the only constant thing is change, where we all have to adapt to our environment and surroundings, whatever the challenge maybe. All that you can do is what is in front of you. Your path and dots will all eventually align. It is about; Fail fast, learning, and improving. Failing fast is to allow yourself to improve and progress quickly. Take a learn from that fail, and improve so you can deal with that situation if you ever come across it again in the future. Without making mistakes, we will never improve, and without improvement, we will never develop. Good luck with your immense personal (and shared journey). As long as you have got your doctor Martin boots, you will be invincible. I am looking forward to the future to see what it brings, but all we can do is live in the present. #DoTheRightThing
Chief Risk Officer at Places for People
1 年Great to hear it’s going well Debi. Bringing clarity out of complexity is a real skill! Keep joining those dots and hope to catch up soon.
Senior People Business Partner
1 年Thanks for sharing your reflections Debi - a really interesting post - the magic definitely starts to happen when you first see the way to join the dots! Can’t wait to hear the next chapter!
Living Sectors Property Management Specialist Founder at Kings Residential Chair at the Association for Rental Living Consultancy | Projects | Fractional | Interim
1 年Love this - no one better to connect this particular set of dots than you ??. Can’t wait for the next installment x