Owner of The Turnaround CEO
AMANDA DALY
Accountability in lockdown
or me, in this issue, I wanted to talk about accountability as accountability is massive, especially in times when we are spending time alone. We have fewer people to bounce ideas off and we have fewer people to mix with. When you are not mixing with people who really push and inspire (you know, these are the ones who we class as the eagles, the go-getters, the award winners, the ones who you see doing the do), it is easy to get in a slump and maybe retreat or even become less dominant and visible. It is easy to drop a level, lose confidence, and not even become aware of it. We establish a new norm with a new routine, especially if life circumstances change and new routines have to be mastered around family, home working, and generally a new lifestyle. 14 | NICHE
HR Director, Affinity HRM
s a small businessowner, I regularly look back to look forward and analyse what has worked well in our business, what could do with some tinkering and what we could do differently at Pattersons Commercial Law. I find it helps that I am surrounded by businessowners who I regularly advise as a corporate solicitor and some of whom I lean on for inspiration. When I look to 2021, I see lots of change happening and whilst there will be economic and geopolitical uncertainty, business owners will want to have a clear understanding of what they need to do to lead their businesses, the challenges they face and the commitments they will have to make. There may be a temptation to look at sources of funding to bolster up the balance sheet or to review the management structure to ensure it is fit for purpose, but sometimes it is also about taking a leap of faith into the unknown and making a commitment to your business. For me, 2021 will see strong leaders emerge with a clear focus on what they want from their businesses, they’ll place trust in their teams and they will have thought heavily about what the future holds for them and their families. Let’s face it, our families play a huge role in what we do as businessowners and they shape our core values.
ALEENA AHMAD
Director, Pattersons Commercial Law
RIK PANCHOLI
Looking back to look forward
Post pandemic people planning
o, from lockdown to unlock, the pandemic has thrown up serious (and complex) HR challenges, leaving businessowners, facing lots of tough choices on how to ensure the continuity and indeed survival of their businesses. With HR working round the clock to support leaders in balancing the evolving needs of the business and their workforce, we’ve been tasked with handling everything from supporting teams with home working, managing absences, furloughing staff, poor mental health, managing performance and even sudden bereavement. HR has proved itself the ‘go-to’ expert in a crisis. On a positive note, the crisis has presented leaders with plenty of opportunities for long-term change and the businesses who have started to capitalise on these are on the road to recovery, owing to their flexible and innovative approach. Above all, they have put people at the heart of business strategy, embracing a much more ‘human’ approach.
Accountability is so important, even for a leader. We all need someone to hold us to account. Someone to push us and someone to see where we are not being as strong as we should or where we are not being true to ourselves. For me, accountability and coaching are so necessary. Without this, who drives you? Who motivates you? Who helps you get your passion? Who helps you get that clear vision? Without someone holding you accountable, pushing you, and taking you out of your comfort zone, how can you actually get better? Sometimes it is not easy to get better because to get better you have to get into the uncomfortable. Things that potentially fill you with fear and out of the norm. Even sometimes things that are so new, they can frighten you. If it frightens you and scares you, that means it is driving you forward and maybe that fright can also be mixed with excitement. It will help release the adrenaline that will fire up the engine and make you perform. So, this is the reason accountability for me is massive. It helps to put in the plans and to ensure you deliver and even to make sure your plans are big enough and exciting enough for growth.