References - who should they be?

One off the benefits of been based in St Andrews currently is I get to run each morning and this gives me really good thinking time. As I ran through the harbour this morning I started to think about the referees I have been putting on my recent job applications (that’s right in am leaving Macdonald’s shortly, they do know), I think I probably follow the crowd and put the HR Director, CEO and Direct Report Manager all very impressive and certainly some of the ones I have had the pleasure to work with should impress most.

However as my heart started to race a little more this morning I started to think are these the right people, are these the people who see how I manage day to day, are these the people who really develop with me, are these the people who really see how I make a difference each and every day. The answer I got, was no they are not, they see one part of my role but for me they are not the people who see my real strengths. My real strength of working with people and not just the great financial results I have delivered, the clear and structured strategic plan I deliver, no they don’t see the real difference – working with PEOPLE, my career has been built on this and with out other people I would not have achieved all the things I have to date.

I am not sure where my next step will take me, will it be in leisure, hotels or something completely different, what level will I enter out – what I do know is in the future if interviewing I will start to ask potential colleagues for the real references, the ones who know them and believe in them, the ones they have worked with day in day out, the ones who they have developed or been developed by.

I would love to know your views. After all that is one of the points on LinkedIn to share for the greater good of business and ourselves, to learn from each other.

FINALLY for me – I asked one of my ex-bosses where they thought my strengths lay and what sort of position I should look for, they were adamant it should be in a group strategic position as I was not much of an operator. WOW - I asked the same question to some people who I have worked with throughout my career, all from different parts of the business – (sales, leisure & spa, Housekeeping, accounts, marketing and revenue) all of who have moved on to bigger and better things and they all said the same thing – work in a role where you can get close to the business, the people and coach and make the real difference as you are a great operator, motivator and leader. WOW again. There is balance in both views but what I know about myself is I need people to bounce of (I like been involved) so I can have fun which makes me a better manager, leader and person.

I think I will choose my references carefully to match the company and role that I am applying for and see where I get to.