RICS Matrics Chair so far...

It’s now 4 months since I officially became RICS Matrics UK Chairman, where has that gone?! So I guess the questions are, is it what I expected, was I prepared, am I enjoying it and what have I done so far??

Let’s start at the beginning, is it what I expected? If I am completely honest I am not sure I had any preconceptions about the role or a particular idea as to what I would be doing despite having seen the past three Chair’s in the role. It can be quite difficult to actually understand a particular role until you are actually undertaking that role yourself.

Was I prepared? The honest answer is no. Having spent two years as an RICS Matrics UK Board member the second of those years in the role as Vice Chair, it came as a surprise to rise through the ranks so quickly. The opportunity to become Chair was one I couldn’t turn down, despite it happening so quickly, it was after all the reason I originally applied and joined the board.

June 19th, location just outside High Wycombe, RICS Matrics AGM. I had attended two of these previously, one as a new Board member, the other as Vice Chair. This was to be the day I took office and was officially unveiled in front of local RICS Matrics Group members, the Board and a member of the RICS Executive team as the RICS Matrics Chair for 2015-16. Feeling woefully underprepared, the skeleton of a Chairman’s Challenge in place it was time to take the reins and Chair the rest of the day. Having spent the few hours prior to this point incredibly nervous I was not looking forward to giving a speech as the new Chair. However, there’s no backing out once the chain of office or gong as it’s known, is put around your neck, the applause rings out and the official photograph is taken. A proud moment indeed, probably one of the proudest of my life so far.

How can I explain my vision, this was a challenge, it was fairly clear in my head but I was having some difficulty vocalising that. Luckily this is something that has become easier and clearer the more speeches I have given and the more I have spoken about what I want to achieve in my year. Essentially I want to position RICS Matrics as the ‘go to’ part of the RICS when it comes to careers and education and I would like to increase engagement and interaction with local groups. This I was clear on, but how to do that, this will be discussed later.

So the Chairman’s challenge, I had a vision of an Olympic theme challenging others to beat times I would set along with some other strands. Rather than explain this fully (I did a poor job at my first speech!) here is a link to the official challenge now that it has been launched. (https://www.rics.org/uk/news/news-insight/news/take-on-the-chairman-for-a-worthy-cause/)

What have I done so far? I had to wait until September before my first Board meeting as Chair but prior to that my role started with meetings in London at RICS HQ with some of the Executive Team who requested meetings to get to know me and understand what I wanted to achieve. A man in demand? Not as much as I expected! Yet. Though I should write a separate blog about my experiences at RICS Governing Council, almost like being a minor celebrity!

After what felt like a couple of uneventful months through the summer holiday season it was soon time to get down to work. September, the first Board meeting. I won’t go into detail but it was a successful meeting, my visions put into practice and actions set for the Board. Subsequently all Board members have local groups they will be mentor to, assisting and being a point of contact to start engaging with local RICS Matrics members. The objectives around careers were discussed and actions agreed, more will be explained around this in later blogs.

Having received feedback via directors with RICS, both indirectly and via twitter, it appears my first meeting was a roaring success. A lot to live up to maybe, though I think I’m better judged once my year ends. Following the Board meeting it was the annual 1913 Wilderness Club dinner, this is where the RICS Matrics Chair gives a speech to the members and prizes are given to selected RICS Matrics members for their achievements in the past year.

Not being a particular fan of giving speeches in front of large audiences I was strangely looking forward to this. I think this was due to the fact I had prepared well, written a speech and was clear about what I wanted to say. Quite possibly the best speech I have ever given, there was interaction with the audience, some of that heckling (all in good humour) which I took in my stride, I got plenty of laughs and a generous applause at the end. Subsequently I was told that the 1913 Wilderness Club Chairman thought it was one of the best speeches he had heard in many years at the dinner. Great feedback and I am completely inspired and ready for much bigger speeches that lie ahead. I may even become a fan of standing in front of hundreds of people!

As for events, I was invited to an event in Leicester by the local group Chair, a very successful evening and I was able to say a few words too. Whilst events in an official capacity have been limited I have also attended an event in London with Sociable Surveyors but this deserves it’s own piece, such was the experience.

Well that has gone on rather longer than I intended but there is so much to tell, maybe I should do a monthly update. Short and sweet is always best so not to bore the audience, at least that’s what I’m learning with speeches! Don’t worry, I realise there is still one question left unanswered………am I enjoying it? As I write this on a train home from London at 10pm, I can firmly say, you better believe I am. I am absolutely loving it so far!