Development can be a slow process

I am typing this entry into my blackberry memo pad, in my car, in the dark and parked on the MI motorway 2 miles north of junction 15A. I have been parked here now for nearly 3 hours.

Today had gone so well too; I have been in Leicester on an Achievers Academy event and had a really good day with the delegates. The academy is an initiative that we run with 6 other Building Societies; Teachers, The Hanley, The Ipswich, Leek United, The Loughborough and Market Harborough. It has been running for a couple of years now and each society puts on 2 delegates, who are hungry for development and have potential; we then put them through a series of pretty tough exercises to hone their skills. Coupled with this each CEO mentors delegates from other societies. This year I am working with Clare and Carole from Leek United.

The idea is to work with them between events and offer advice and coaching to help channel and stretch their development. It is great fun and very rewarding. Yesterday was a presentation skills training course in advance of a formal event next week, where all the delegates will have to present to a "dragons den" of CEO's - nasty!

I firmly believe that our people are what differentiates our service and therefore development for those who want it is critically important. Saffron Building Society is only as good as the staff our customers deal with and my colleagues at the other societies are firmly in this camp too.

I am hoping the M1 may open soon; it is now nearly 9pm and I have run out of sweets and have my legs crossed…