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TheLife


MOVERS & SHAKERS


THE SECRET AGENT


The only problem with people, is that they’re people!


Being an employer has its rewards – it also has some major disappointments.


I


n the early days of my business, when it was just me and the senior valuer – whom I had seconded from my


previous employer, HR was simple. Jane (my secondee) was always motivated. We’d work alongside each other, each of us able to focus on our individual workload harmoniously. If Jane had any issues, we’d discuss them openly and would always find a ‘work around’ that suited us both. As it turned out, Jane remained a loyal employee until she retired last year. She was more like family by the end and we are still in regular contact. This utopian


period lasted until I expanded by taking on two additional members of staff. Jane and I were close, the two newcomers were ambitious and keen to impress. A degree of backstabbing and one


‘I’ve had more man management issues to contend with this week than in the last 10 years.’


upmanship began to creep into the otherwise relaxed (though diligent) office environment. It was easily dealt with (I largely left them to settle their own differences), but my relationship with ‘the staff’ began to alter. The experience had changed me from friend to parent. As the ranks swelled, so did the level of ‘tough love’ that was needed to keep the team motivated and all on the same page. I’ve always been a ‘firm but fair’ kind of


a guy, and my people seem to respect that. As a result I’ve become comfortable with


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the teaching role and have built a close team of loyal people, who, despite having to swallow the occasional disappointment, frustration and difference of opinion, remain hungry to succeed and stay in my good books. As a consequence of this expert management style I have enjoyed relatively trouble free HR for the past decade. Until now! In the last week I’ve had more man management issues to contend with, than in the last 10 years combined. I’ve had a


pregnancy (congratulations), a major operation (circa 12 weeks from admission to recovery. I feel desperately sorry for her, but come on for heaven’s


sake, give me a break), a resignation (although I’ve got to admit that I was fairly happy about that one) and an internet scandal that’s threatening to go viral! This last was caused by my 17-year-old Saturday-boy’s friends, who thought it would be rather funny to post his views about his colleagues on the company’s Facebook profile. All this is going to cost thousands of pounds! What did I do to deserve it? I give people decent jobs, a reasonable level of security, a career that can grow with their ambition to any height they choose and this is what I get in return! Oh well, they’re only human. Unfortunately.


myhomemove has appointed Doug Crawford as Chief Executive to strengthen its senior management team. Doug was formerly the Chief Executive of Personal Touch, a financial services network, prior to which he led a number of other successful businesses, and held senior positions in the insurance industry. Current Chief Executive, Ian Floyed, will take


up the role of Deputy Chairman. Ian said, “I welcome Doug to myhomemove. We are excited about working with Doug to build on our record breaking 2011 performance in market share, transaction volumes and profit.”


Chesterton Humberts has appointed Richard Saville, an experienced Rural Chartered Surveyor to the Rural Team as an Associate Director at the Petersfield


office. Richard has worked for the past ten years as Regional Rural Surveyor to the National Trust’s South East Region. Richard says, “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Chesterton Humberts team in Petersfield at this exciting time and look forward to working with colleagues to develop the rural business across the South East.”


Preston Bennett has appointed two new Associate Directors from their current team. They are Nick Stafford in the Planning Department


and James Zamchick in New Homes. Nick Stafford, 28, has been with Preston Bennett for four years and during that time he has achieved Chartered status and membership of the RTPI. “I am delighted to be appointed an Associate Director, especially after a highly successful year in 2011 when my major goal of bringing in new clients to the business was achieved,” said Nick Stafford. James said, “It has been a whirlwind time since I joined the firm and I am very happy that my efforts in helping to drive the business forward have been recognised in this way.” Photo: (L-R) Richard Henley, Nick Stafford, James Zamchick and Lee Martin


Connells has appointed Derek Richardson as its new Area Lettings Manager in the South-West, a key role in major expansion plans for Connells Lettings.


Derek will be based in Westbury-on-Trym


and cover the entire South-West region, as Connells adds 44 new lettings centres to its national network of which almost a quarter will be based in the South West. “I am thrilled to be joining the Connells


Lettings team”, says Derek. “We will be opening lots of new lettings branches this year in Worcester, Exeter, Bristol, Taunton, Yeovil, Paignton and Torquay.”


Email your appointments to: sheila@thenegotiator.co.uk l


TheNegotiator l April 2012 l 41


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