What a week it’s been
Last week was full of different elements. All of them bringing surprising and much valued moments. One surprise for me was that I literally ran out of time to get my usual blog out on Friday morning, which I have been doing for over 4 years! So, here it is this week on a Monday.
HQ artwork
At the beginning of last week, a small group of us took some time to reflect on the entries for our first ever Nash Squared art competition. It turned out to be a highlight of the week for me. Getting to sit back and admire and appreciate, even as a non-artist myself, the sheer talent in front of us. I have to say that I was simply in awe of these fantastic entries, inspiring doesn’t even cover it!
It was so great to send out the communication across Nash Squared’s world the announcement of the winner and our intentions to celebrate the entrants. So excited by this.
Kick offs
I got to join a couple of kick-offs in the past week where colleagues celebrated their many achievements whilst recognising with a healthy counterbalance of just how many tough moments there had been last year. At the same time, there was a great focus on the future months ahead of us.
I spent Tuesday with the senior team in the Netherlands, working together to set ourselves up in the best possible position for growing this year with healthy sustainable growth. I asked Frederieke to step into the role of interim MD for the Netherlands, and she and the team quickly moved into action the same day. I love the energy and the commitment.
There have been many 5 and 10 year plus anniversaries with Nash Squared throughout the week and I get to reach out and recognise these much valued moments. Retaining colleagues over 5 years, and beyond, is a great testament to our culture.
I have also been spending time with the Employee Resource Groups of NASHpride, ethNASHity, wo+men@NASH and NASHability. It really is incredible the work these groups do on all of our behalf to help take down the thousand tiny walls that were built over time without intent to harm and to help us all belong, be heard and be seen.
Building relationships
This week brings the continued focus on how we are growing the work we do with our long-standing clients and how we can build ever deeper relationships with clients to support their strategies as well as our own; the offer of a wider portfolio of services whether that is within Technology solutions or recruitment or across both.
In the Northern hemisphere we are about to enter the Spring season; days are getting lighter for longer, the natural world in which we live is coming alive with new plants and animals and it’s a joy to hear the birds’ dawn chorus every morning as I begin the day. I hope you find time to step away from the busyness of life at some point each day and connect with something that refreshes and revitalises you too.
I wish you a happy and productive week.