It's been a year at Sprout for me now and in a great way, it feels like so much longer. Life 18 months ago was very different and I’ve been reflecting on the amazing journeys we all go on in our careers.
Clarity is a core focus for Sprout and central to how we help the businesses we partner with. It seems to have naturally become part of how I approach life in general now. Like some form of osmosis, I am much clearer on what I do, why I do it and where I add value. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
I’ve never been someone who would say "when I grow up I want to be ...." (insert occupation as appropriate!). My career -- while successful and fulfilling -- has happened by working hard and taking opportunities when I can. In my career, I’ve been exposed to so many different managers and leaders and of course their varying opinions, styles, and idiosyncrasies. I've been lucky to have fantastic leadership in the main, but there are a few interesting managers who perhaps didn't truly understand leadership and people. At the end of the day, it’s not straightforward.
Working within HR and recruitment for a fair few years now I’ve probably met thousands of team leaders, managers, C-suit execs and I am fairly astute at being able to see where they sit on the scale of manager to leader. In my early career, I was quickly being promoted and I just didn’t pick up on some of those more subtle nuances that you only get from experience. It took time, self-awareness, some mistakes and firm mentoring to allow me to see it. And of course, I am still learning and will continue to!
Understanding an individual’s drive and purpose is a skill that takes time to master. I guess a big part of it is emotional intelligence. But when you get it, it’s like harnessing a bit of a superpower -- it's grounding and ultimately the best motivation. I often wish I could bottle it up and give it away! Harnessing my own 'why' in the last 12 months really has “sparked joy” (thanks Marie Kondo) and I have subsequently felt a sense of ease and calmness. I admit that there are times where I lose sight of this and I have to remind and reset, but I'm just human right?
I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a team at Sprout NZ that ‘get it’. Knowing that we are coaching leaders in some exceptionally smart Kiwi businesses and that we are positively impacting the New Zealand workforce makes me so happy. We are collectively making a difference - how cool is that?
So I sign off with a sense of pride and I'd like to share our purpose; we’re here to help growth businesses build a more productive, prosperous and happy NZ.
Are you a business owner and this is ringing true with you? Contact me or the team and let’s have a yarn!
Call us on 0800 4 SPROUT (0800 4 777 688) or email us on Kiaora@sproutnz.com
