merger
i
opinions
n what way does your
company try to ensure
work/life balance?
From top to bottom:
Ed King,
Jeremy Harrison,
Jim Quinn
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Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance has a
strong work/life balance ethic derived
from our UK heritage, and we believe
that by achieving just the right balance
we can get the most out of our employees; this also assists with morale and
motivation.
We seek to sympathetically understand
our employees’ needs and, to achieve
this we have monthly one-on-one
meetings with all our teams and we are
measured in 6 monthly reviews on our
own performance levels right up to the
MD level.
An example of how we promote the
balance within our team is the following:
At our UK Operational Centers a lot of
the roles appeal to mothers with young
children, and so we assist by allowing
flexible working where employees can
work extra hours to build up flex days for
extra days for vacations, attend school
plays, concerts, etc. Equally, I have a UK
colleague whose husband is the nanny
and Commercial Finance assists by allowing working from home and flex days so
she can still be a good mother.
Following the launch of Lloyds
Commercial Finance in the USA, we are
adapting our UK culture and implementing it within our atmosphere in order to
not only be in line with the mentality
and ethics of our counterpart offices,
but to also inspire ourselves from an
ethic that motivates work and life.
Our focus is to provide an appealing
environment that does not refrain from
day-to-day business, along with quality relationships and communication.
Enhancing the work environment is the
success to achieving the most out of my
colleagues. A favorite of the team is the
team lunches after every three completed deals, as well as flexibility in working
from home.
Jeremy Harrison
director, Commercial Finance
Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets
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During a recent interview for a new
sales associate, I was asked what the
LSQ Funding Group corporate philosophy was regarding the proper “Balance
of Life” between work and family. I
thought it was a great question, but the
answer is not the same for everyone.
Just because you get an email from a
business associate at 2:00 a.m., it does
not mean he or she is a workaholic.
That person may just be an early riser.
My response to the question is that the
proper balance is whatever allows you
to succeed in both areas. I do not believe
that success in one part of your life must
come at a cost in another part of your life.
You should be able to accomplish both.
I had an early mentor who taught
me the Philosophy of “Be Where You
Are.” This is a mindset and dedication
to focusing on what you are supposed
to be doing, when you are supposed to
be doing it. If you are thinking about
cutting your grass or taking your child
to the beach while you are at the office,
it detracts from your focus and productivity at work. If you are thinking of the
sales pipeline while you are wrestling
with your sons, they are not really
getting all of you at that moment. “Be
Where You Are.”
The real issue is one of production,
discipline, organization and responsibilities. How many times have you seen the
“Office Yapper” wandering around hanging on every cubicle or office door, while
the very productive team members were
focused on producing results? You know
the old saying, “If you want something
done right, give it to the busiest person.”
The reason is that the busy, organized,
disciplined person can pack 50% more
productivity into an average day than a
normal employee who just cares to meet
the basic job requirements. The best
companies create a “Culture of Performance” where passion and productivity
are standards within the organization.
It is not a case where the organiza-
You know the old
saying, “If you want
something done right,
give it to the busiest
person.” The reason
is that the busy,
organized, disciplined
person can pack 50%
more productivity into
an average day than a
normal employee who
just cares to meet the
basic job requirements.
94
tional leaders strategically mandate
these qualities, but rather they set the
example and then let the peers manage
the culture internally. At a recent Harvard Business School executive course
I learned “Culture Eats Strategy for
Breakfast.” When it comes to the type
of productivity that is expected by each
member of the organization, “Culture” is
your bowl of Wheaties!
The most precious resource a
company has is their employees. It is
all about the people. Many companies
do not recognize the cost it takes to replace and train employees. You always
want to hire for attitude, but there are
many positions where certain skill sets
and expertise is needed. Progressive
companies recognize the great team
players they have and work to create
an environment or culture that leads
them to good job satisfaction. This may
mean that they allow someone to leave
at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays to make a class
or coach a sports team. The employee
can come in at 7:00 a.m. the next day or
stay until 6:30 p.m. the following day to
make up the time. As long as they are
putting in a full week, the time can be
flexible. There are service issues and
coverage situations that need to be
carefully evaluated when making these
decisions.
Telecommuting has also contributed
to more flexibility in today’s workplace.
We have a number of employees who are
in certain service capacities that have
had to move out of state and we were
still able to have them continue their
positions working remotely from the
corporate office. In today’s world, all you
need is a cell phone and a wireless card
in your laptop and you are ready to go.
There is something very pleasing about
answering email on the dock by the lake.
The final analysis is whether or not the
work or service was performed with
passion and excellence, no matter where
that work was performed.
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Of course there needs to be some policies and oversight to these options, but
that is easily handled by proactive communication and a clear understanding of
what is acceptable and what is expected.
It is a very competitive marketplace
for talent today. Great people are the
foundation that you build a company on.
Passion, integrity, ethics, drive and a “get
it done” attitude are the qualities that
you want to thrive in your organization.
Companies that are finding ways to help
with the balance of life in today’s busy
times and increasing demands are the
ones that are creating the culture that
will attract others with the same qualities. Great people are hard to find. You
need to make sure you have a corporate
culture that will keep them.
Jim Quinn
executive vice president
chief sales officer
LSQ Funding Group
We offer our employees a great deal of
flexibility on time to handle personal
and family matters as well as vacation
days. We have found that our employees are responsible about the time they
take off. They make sure that, if they
are to be out of the office, the work is
done before they leave or they inform
others as to what needs to be done
while they are gone.
Our team approach allows us flexibility because, if an account representative is out of the office, there are others
that are familiar with the account and
can help in the account representative’s
absence.
We have a good team that takes
ownership in what they do. They have
earned the ability to take time and days
away from the office. I think the flexibility adds to their productivity while in
the office. TSL
Edward P. King
managing partner
King Trade Capital