From a business perspective, what have you missed most since lockdown?
Bev Mitchell
Leading the movement empowering family businesses to grow sales and profit by turning their Unique Values & Culture into their Greatest Competitive Advantage. Coaching leaders to embed lasting impact.
For me, the one thing I desperately miss is not being able to visit my clients’ premises and observing a company’s culture and engagement first-hand.
In all the work that I do in helping my clients identify and align their culture or increase the engagement of their employees the one thing that I find most helpful and illuminating is to be able to walk around their facilities.
Clients may tell me that they have a very strong and well-defined culture that all their employees buy into. They may point to posters on the wall throughout their buildings depicting their cultural values. But if when I walk around, I can’t see any evidence of those values being demonstrated then I know that those posters have become merely wallpaper.
For example, I remember visiting a facility where the HR Director was proudly telling me how they had successfully moved away from their previous rather hierarchical culture to a much more equitable and inclusive one but on the way in I had passed the designated parking spaces right by the door for the Chairman, the MD and the Sales Director! Clearly their new culture wasn’t quite as embedded as they thought.
On a visit to another site the MD was showing me round the offices and the factory and warehouse facilities and telling me what a relaxed, friendly, family atmosphere there was in his company when it was obvious from everyone that we met that he ruled the place with a rod of iron and his employees were clearly very intimidated by him.
These are just a couple of many examples of the many I have seen throughout the years and it provides me with so much insight as to what might be going on in that company and what help they might need. I miss getting out there and really immersing myself in a business, I miss making the connections with the people, I miss how people react when I tell them I want to work with them on their culture and engagement, I miss the smiles and the welcome when employees begin to trust me and tell me what they really think about the organisation they work for.
I know I have been lucky as my business has experienced a very successful 12 months. I have been able to achieve so much with my clients over the past year but when that day comes when I can safely return to visiting their premises then I will be practically running through the car park to reception as it will be amazing to be able to observe culture and engagement first hand again.
I wonder, what have you missed most?
Managing Director at The Jackloc Company Ltd - UK ???? Window safety & security restrictor manufacturer
4 年Great article Bev Do the values on the wall match the actions on the floor?
Empowering Women to Reclaim Their Authentic Selves | Life Coach for Women | Author of "Women at Their Emotional Limit" | Helping Women Overcome Overwhelm & Achieve Wellbeing
4 年I think for me, I've missed the energy and buzz that comes from meeting with people in a face to face environment. You can 'feel' the atmosphere and that brings a sense of belonging and engagement for everyone. Whilst I've been able to keep in touch with colleagues, friends and clients online, I don't think anything beats walking into a room with like minded people and settling down to sort out a challenge or to continue working collaboratively on a project that will bring benefits for others.
Helping small business owners reduce stress and become more effective by taking over their tedious time-sucking admin tasks | Virtual Assistant | Flexible | Freelance Admin | Freelance Talent Management Consultant
4 年Great post, Bev. I miss the same thing. My work has always been very virtual even before the pandemic, so I didn't often go to clients' premises but always loved it when the opportunity arose. There's nothing better than having a coffee together and a face-to-face chat about how I can help my client tick some items off their to-do list.