Why engagement is everything

The cat has been put firmly among the pigeons! Eighteen months of ups and downs, trials and tribulations, winning and losing – and of course businesses that have truly shown what they are capable of (or not capable of)!

It’s been a fascinating time which has provided us with an opportunity to see how the most successful firms thrive when the chips are down. Sadly, this also means watching as other have slowly drowned in an ocean of chaos and uncertainty.

Putting a global pandemic aside, one of the biggest problems with the financial services sector globally is that so many firms and practices are not run by natural business owners or leaders. This, in turn, causes problems further down the operational food chain.

Without a grounded sense of clarity about the firm’s purpose and a clear direction of travel, many firms and their teams simply cruise along, never really being inspired or gaining a sense that they are delivering a valuable contribution.

Let me ask you: How have things been since the return to the normal workings of your firm? Are things the same, better or worse? Have the past few months shown the true colours of those you work with and for? Do you still feel engaged with where you are and where you’re going?

And probably the most important question is this: Does the thought of seeing the year out in your current role, with your current responsibilities make you feel like you’ve been shot by a rocket or shot out of a rocket?

These are real questions that need real and honest answers!

I could share hundreds of stories – some from people working in firms who have literally dreaded returning to the office, some who can’t wait to get back in to ‘full flow’ and catch up with their colleagues in ‘real life’! Wherever you are at, we still do live in interesting times!

So, what now?

You

I am going to assume that you want to be operating at the top of your game, but what does that mean to you? Are you aiming for the highest level of technical skill or are you striving for much more?

Does the business inspire you to bring the best possible version of yourself to work? If not – why not? And if so, how can you leverage this relationship to secure your value contribution and long-term success and happiness?

This conversation with yourself is brutal but it’s essential and there has never been a more important time to have it!

Them

What’s the vision of the firm that you’re working for? Has it set a vision that excites you – that draws you in and inspires you to achieve something greater than simply doing the day job? Does it have the structures and governance in place which will support and secure both the firm’s and therefore your success in the long term?

If not, how can you help? I have no doubt in my mind that you have an abundance of ideas about how things could be done better, about what could be achieved with improved planning and structures. I encourage you to have confidence in your creativity, to speak out and help turn the chaos into calm.

Together

Last up, we have the place where the magic starts to happen! I believe it is the point where collaboration and teamwork meet.

The areas that we focus on the most when working with our business owners and their teams is communication and collaboration. The perfect mix of these two will support the business to achieve great things. So, could you be collaborating more with your colleagues? Designing solutions together is what will really make the biggest impacts!

The key is the presence of openness. This is the confidence that comes from a willingness to delegate and trust your colleagues. Self-confidence also releases the need to control every aspect of your role to the detriment of yourself and all those around you!

All this takes time and energy and isn’t an easy thing to do. In fact, it takes guts and a commitment to wanting to make a change for the better. The key action for you is to evaluate your current levels of engagement and to take positive steps to ensure that you can achieve your full potential, while actively helping others to reach theirs – you’ve got this!

– Michelle Hoskin, founder and director of Standards International

This article appeared first in Money Marketing on 8 October 2021 and you can view it here.