The Elephant in the Room – a guest blog from the fabulous Maura Jackson, CEO at our partner charity Backup
The Elephant in the Room – a guest blog from the fabulous Maura Jackson, CEO at our partner charity Backup
September 2019; we are three quarters the way through the calendar year. Is it going how you hoped or planned? Is that better or worse than you expected? My life is ruled and managed and supported by the calendar and diary. So I love to look at the light-hearted calendar too that tells us things like when it’s talk like a pirate day or national kebab day and other key milestones in life. September is “read a new book” month and “friendship” month which I will come back to in a minute.
My goals (NOT resolutions) for this calendar year were simple:-
1. Win the local authority tender for BACKUP, the charity where I am CEO.
2. Lose 2 stone in weight
3. Sort out the work life balance.
Number One. The local authority tender was 6 months late being issued, but finally went live in May and I had 4 weeks to write the winning bid. This I did. Securing over £2million for the charity and providing us with some stability and sustainability for the foreseeable future; (4 years) a very privileged position for the charity sector. The lead up to this involved much speculation, anxiety for those affected by TUPE (21 posts) paralysis in decision making around recruitment and financial matters, leaving the organisation very short staffed and people working under a lot of pressure. The majority of the workforce working overtime. It was like being in limbo. All other business plans had to be put on hold. For months the tender has been the “elephant in the room”.
This analogy is based on the concept that something so huge and conspicuous as an elephant can appear to be ignored, overlooked and repressed in situations because people don’t want to or cannot address it.
Once awarded it was like opening the floodgates. We were recruiting to all vacant posts, making plans to expand (opening 2 new residential services) and proceeding with our plans for our first ever commercial enterprise; it has been busy on every level. Demand for the services we provide remains high and is increasing. I am grateful that BACKUP are getting bigger and stronger to be able to support the young homeless people we serve in a meaningful way.
Skip Number two for a second…. Number three. The work life balance was ok but due to overtime and feeling completely consumed by the tender it’s taken a detour and was non existent. But post tender I have made a concerted effort to sort that out. I have reconnected with family and friends (it’s friendship month remember?) and took some time to reflect on my performance and position. When faced with a challenge in life I just acknowledge it, knuckle down and deal with it, power through it and as I emerge the other side realise I am stressed and reach out for support through supervision, coaching, book a holiday or reflexology or counselling. But this challenge has been harder, I was feeling responsible for other people’s jobs and welfare in a way I haven’t experienced before. But through this experience a couple of amazing things occurred that have literally made me want to beam with pride.
I had a chance conversation with two colleagues, a support worker and their manager. Both were subject to TUPE and jobs were at risk. They told me that in the eventuality of us not winning that contract (which they had every faith we would) they were not going to transfer across to another winning organisation. They had considered their positions and were going to walk away because “when you have worked for the best we wouldn’t want to settle for anyone else and risk working for someone for whom young people were not THE priority.”
The other thing was this; 21 people were told in January 2019 they were at risk and their posts subject to TUPE. We were awarded that contract at the end of July to start mid August i.e. 2 weeks notice and not one of those 21 people left to find other more secure contracts. They stayed, they managed the uncertainty the best they could and they continued throughout to deliver fantastic life changing services to young homeless people which is what this is all about. I am immensely grateful for my colleagues loyalty and commitment.
Back to work life balance; I have joined a gym with a pool so I can go swimming and I have joined an adults dance class. My August time sheet was the first in two years with no overtime on it. Something’s happening…..
Number two, lose two stone. Epic fail. Not only have I not lost the two stone, I have gained two more! I can list all manner of reasons but basically I have eaten more food then I needed and not exercised enough. I won’t give up. I am now a size 22 with an arse the size of an elephant but I am ok with it. My body is healthy, it functions well and I know to be healthier I need to change. I have done it before and will again. Bizarrely those who know me will know that elephants have always been my favourite animal. I think they are magnificent creatures and I have more in common with them than just my arse. I don’t have a big trunk or ears but it’s the personality. They have four distinct characteristics to help them survive their harsh environment; the leaders, the gentle giants, playful rogues and reliable plodders. The leaders in all other animal groups are usually more dominant and aggressive but for elephants the leaders are well respected and considered intelligent and good problem solvers by the others. They have an ability to get others in the herd to agree. (according to a 38 year study by Professor Cynthia Lee)
I share other traits with them; loyalty, family orientated, strong maternal instincts, empathy and good communicators. On 22nd September it is elephant appreciation day, I was lucky enough to see elephants up close rescued from logging in Thailand and they were beautiful. That was a spectacular holiday and something else I am grateful for. This weekend I ask you to think about which type of elephant would you be and why? It is a great ice breaker question.
In order to bring back that work life balance, get some perspective and give my weary brain a post tender wobble I went on a fantastic 2 day retreat with Boo Coaching and Purely Wellbeing. 36 hours of reflection, peace, meditation, relaxation, mindfulness, reading, coaching, group work and listening I came away with a lot to consider but also I had acknowledged the following;
I am a bloody good business woman
My two strongest values are integrity and authenticity
I have done my best
I have an amazing team
It’s ok to feel tired and desire a rest
I need to practice what I preach
Everyone in the group had got too busy doing; instead of being
Put your own oxygen mask on first………….
Balance is needed in all areas of my life; self care is not selfish, it’s a necessity.
There I sat down to read the first book I have looked at in over a year and it is fantastic; Ruby Wax – a mindfulness guide for the frazzled. (read a new book month…… see what I did there?) Becci and Leanne who ran the retreat were superb, I would highly recommend them.
22nd September is also Business Women’s Day. If you are a woman in business then give yourself a well deserved pat on the back because you will be somebody’s role model. I am too, I am a charity leader who runs the organisation like a business but keeps the focus on the experience of the young people. Next week I am a finalist in the Bolton Business Awards as Business Person of the Year and to even be nominated and shortlisted is an honor. It’s amazing to be recognised in the business sector because I know we operate more efficiently than some businesses! Next month I am a finalist in the National (I already won the regional) Institute of Directors; Director of the Year. I am also a finalist in the Women in Housing Awards; woman of the year category. I have gained a lot of personal recognition recently and at first I felt I was showing off but now I am honoured to be recognised for 30 years in social care, 20 of those in leadership roles and 11 of those in CEO positions.
Finally this weekend is also World Gratitude Day on the 21st September and I am grateful for so much. Having attended a funeral today of a 55 year old friend I am reminded that life’s short and meaningless without good health and I have mine. I am grateful for my networks of supporters and cheerleaders, husband, mum, daughter, friends, family, colleagues and women and men in business who support/promote me and BACKUP. I have re set my goals and have just the one; to be kinder to myself and others, everything else will follow. There is a quarter of the year left and I intend to continue to seek and redress the imbalance I have created. I have dealt with my elephant in the room for now; so if you see one in your room, before you exorcise it, make sure it’s not actually me; the wannabe elephant. If it is me, best to approach with a smile, a cup of tea and a biscuit; weight watchers of course.
You can find more of Maura’s musings on Twitter @chetheshorkie
