Hello Everybody,

2022 has been a strange year for some, there is no denying that. We finally left COVID behind it seems, but that left us with a different version of Sedulo than the one that went into the pandemic in 2020.

Looking back now, the change of circumstances that COVID created, and with the growth we have enjoyed over the same period, it was inevitable we would inherit some problems in 2022.

More than anything, I think the higher than usual levels of staff turnover, coupled with the growth, meant many operations were at stretching point. Not least because we had to recruit at speed to cope with both scenarios, some recruitment we simply got wrong.

I have talked, for many years, about us being a world-class advisory firm. Where excellence happens on default, where the results occur as a result of consistent, correct behaviours. Where everyone in the team is of equal importance to one another. Where everyone understands the goal of the organisation, and it fits in with their own personal goals, where everything happens with synchronicity.

Early in the year it was apparent to me, that the culture had regressed during COVID, it was important we got it back. We began returning to why this business was setup in the 1st place. To be the very best in advisory and consultancy, having fun and giving back, along the way.

We talked last year in our 2021 conference about our desire to be a Stage 5 organisation – characterised in the Netflix documentary ‘The Last Dance’, a recollection of the famous Michael Jordan lead Chicago Bulls team.

Truth is, there are very few Stage 5 organisations in corporate settings.

“Stage 5: Life is Great – As good as Stage 4 can be, there is room to go higher still. Stage 5 is occupied by a select few organisations that are so innovative that they have created entirely new market opportunities, allowing them to embark on history-making projects. “These are the tribes that end up changing the world. Not surprisingly, only two percent of organisations reach this lofty position.”

I made the point that whilst it isn’t easy to become Stage 5, we were incessant that we are going to get there. And we still are.

What this has required though is a determination to stick to our principles, despite what is going on around us, and a dedication to get back to the culture we want to create.

Mediocracy, doesn’t bode well in a high performing environment, nor do mediocre people accept the environment, we had a choice. Do we lower the bar for the average? Or do we maintain the bar for the excellent? Push on with building a high performing environment that thrives, and provides opportunity for everyone that exists within it?

We decided to do the latter, but this comes with aches and pains of course. Many we have encountered this year.

The great thing is that, through a number of initiatives, through the strength of our vision, through the hard work and dedication of every one of you, we are ending the year much closer to where we want to be as an organisation.

As I write this, staff turnover is very low, the happiness score is up, the staff satisfaction survey results have improved, we have entered the mid-tier index as an advisory firm, and have been included in the TOP 75 UK Accountancy Firms.

I have mentioned this a few times, but sometimes, despite what is going on around us, we must trust the process. We must measure, not where