I was fortunate to be able to celebrate my tenth anniversary of joining Agencia last month. With members of the team travelling from as far afield as America to be at the event, it gave me good reason to pause and reflect.
For any of you who own, or lead a business, you will be all too familiar with both the inherent exhilaration and fear that this brings. The responsibility and the challenge; coupled with the sense of pride and fulfilment make for a heady cocktail mix, that is both sweet and sour.
For me, add to this the fact that our work is ‘no widget-making’ business, but instead, tackling some of the greatest and most complex issues of our time. Pandemic disease, dementia, terrorism, corruption, war crimes and modern slavery to name just a few. You begin to get a sense of the sort of team we are.
As a family owned and run business, we have always been close as colleagues. I am fortunate to have benefitted from working alongside values-driven, talented, and committed people. In sharing some of the things they’ve taught me, I hope that they also help you in your work – or life in general.
(1) The importance of belief in our work – leave a legacy you’re proud of
Given the sheer amount of hard work that goes into delivering our business, it is only possible to do this by having unwavering belief in our work. I would be lying if I said there are not times when I fantasise about possible easier ways to make a living. Opening a sweet or cake shop are firm favourites. However, we choose to do this because we believe in improving health and justice – two of life’s most precious commodities. We are dedicated to transforming lives.
As examples, at home, our work includes designing and delivering a pioneering treatment service called ‘Rewire’ to combat painkiller addiction and leading our Primary Care Direct service, which is currently supporting over 350 GP practices.
Overseas, our work includes working with the Kenyan government to reduce corruption, extensive judicial reform work across the Western Balkans region, medical forensics work in Kosovo, cyber-crime in Barbados, clinical coding work in Tunisia and advocacy work in Malaysia. Our Serious Crime Directorate delivers expertise in corruption, economic crime and terrorism.
It’s this belief in using business as a force for good, that drives us forward. I’ve learnt to ask myself, “if it all ended tomorrow, can we be sure that we have spent our time and energies well?” For us, we can be sure to answer ‘yes’ with full confidence.
(2) Look after each other, make it personal and ‘make yourself at home’
In the working world, it’s all too easy for things to be ‘too corporate’ and for relationships to be fickle. I’ve been fortunate to join (and build) a team that are passionate and have heart and soul. We’ve engineered a culture of looking after each other – including the necessary ‘winding and burping’ as we hit the inevitable hiccups along the way.
Over the years I’ve learnt the importance of simply ‘showing up.’ So many don’t. Particularly for the personal occasions, whether a retirement do, funeral, or simply an invitation to Christmas drinks. Acknowledge the births, deaths and marriages. The school holidays, the elderly parent going into a home…. Let people know you care and love them – little happens until you do. It will be noticed, appreciated, and I promise you’ll reap the rewards.
(3) Business (and especially the nature of ours) is for the Overcomers
I’ve lost count of the sleepless nights, the anxiety-ridden moments, the heartbreaks. We’ve lost team members, fought through the recession and faced legal threats. Sometimes it feels like we’re working against all the odds. A case of one step forward and ten steps back. A story of David and Goliath. It is the love, skill, energy and commitment of our team, that has enabled us to navigate a way forward and overcome.
The antidote to fear is faith. It is faith that allows us to keep on stepping out into the unknown, time and time again. We’ve learnt to ask: ‘what is possible?’ Just because it’s unorthodox, or hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Our team has encouraged me to be bold in striving to exceed expectations. I’d like to encourage you to do the same.
(4) Use your Moral Compass to navigate unchartered territory
Much of today’s world is living in uncertain times. This directly impacts on wider transnational and cross-border objectives such as security, health, trade, governance and human rights. As citizens, we are crying out for ‘straight talking.’ We crave the truth. The solutions start with ensuring trust and credibility. As leaders, we must be honest, in order to be trusted. Compassionate and kind, in order to defend those more vulnerable than ourselves.
As a team, we have learnt that when in uncertain, complex or unchartered territory, the best thing to do is hang on tightly to our values and use these to navigate a way forward.
(5) The sizzle is as important (or more so) than the sausage
We are proud to have been trusted to deliver over 400 contracts in 16 countries, developing and exporting British public service expertise, with clients as diverse as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, European Union and the NHS. We have reformed government judicial capabilities, transformed healthcare services, developed integrated strategies for organisations, improved communities and ultimately changed lives. We are extremely proud of our achievements.
Appointed as Northern Powerhouse Export Champion this year, Agencia also won best small business at the 2017 National Family Business awards, has qualified for a number of central government frameworks, and is on the register for the UN Global Compact sustainability initiative.
We maintain that in overcoming the obstacles, the way we work is as important as the outcome. We bring people with us on the transformation journey, rather than just focussing on the final outcome, and results.
Whilst there are so many sparks along the way, many fall by the wayside. But the sizzle will leave a lasting impression, even if the ‘sausage’ only gets half cooked, gets burnt or is ultimately inedible. I’ve learnt that regardless of whether we get a sausage or not, the journey and those we share this precious time with, are often as transformative as the end game.
As we go about our lives, take the opportunity to use these tips. Let’s amplify the transformation in the lives of those we are fortunate enough to touch, whether they are patients, service users, partners, or colleagues.
About Agencia
Agencia has been transforming organisations for over 22 years. We not only design the change but also make it happen, turning strategy into action and action into results.
We are a team of industry experts with years of on the ground experience. Our solutions are pragmatic and down to earth.
We are a family run business with values based on collaboration, practical and realistic methods for making a difference.
We have been trusted to deliver over 400 contracts, developing and exporting British public service expertise. We have improved government capabilities, transformed entire organisations, developed communities and changed lives.
We thrive on the most challenging projects, finding inspiration where others may find difficulty.
We operate worldwide.
Agencia has been appointed as a Northern Powerhouse Export Champion for 2019.
To find out more, please see our about us page https://agencialtd.com/about-us/ or contact us: https://agencialtd.com/contact-us/
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