Jackie Cameron - Coaching and Communication

This is my contribution to Robert Hruzeks’ group writing project “What I learned from the generosity of others”

It will be 5 years in January since I set up Cameron Consulting. Prior to that I worked with the an international firm of accountants as a tax consultant but towards the end I was responsible for reviewing the firm’s relationship and engagement with the community here in Scotland and Northern Ireland. For the first time this gave me access and insight to the wonderful projects that exist to support our  vulnerable and less fortunate neighbours.

I have heard so many stories about people who recognise a need and instead of saying “someone should do something about that” they say “what can I do about that?” These people drive on often with very little funding and usually with very little support or for that matter “spare” time - to make a difference.

The support can come from anywhere. Sometimes the firm was approached for financial help but - even though financial support is crucial to the future of any projects - I was often told that when someone took a personal interest in what was going on that was very valuable indeed.

It was demonstrated most memorably for me when I visited the Belfast office just after the Special Olympics had been held in Ireland. It had been agreed that any staff who wanted to could have time away from the office to offer help to the athletes as they arrived and during the event.   The purpose of my trip to Belfast  was to speak to colleagues and get their thoughts on how the firm was engaging with the community there genearlly . In fact people were bursting to tell me about their their Special Olympics experience - of hefting luggage onto buses and to the accommodation, running errands, doing whatever needed done at the time. There were many photographs and the joy on everyone’s faces was clear to see. The local news covered the fact that a group of accountants in an international firm was happy to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in when needed - which was welcome PR but I know that when I spoke to the people who had been involved it had been a very special personal experience.

As time has passed I have heard stories like this over and over again  - of people getting involved in something worthwhile and how that made them feel. Sometimes it is about realising how well off they are. I have heard about people using the skills that they have  and take for granted in a way that benefits someone else enormously.  Younger folks often talk about how it helps build experience in areas that cannot readily be accessed in the workplace eg project managment and communications.  I have to stress that I have never had anyone tell me about how great they are that they do something for others.

In my own experience and from what I hear doing something for others is that it is worthwhile,  often humbling and can be incredibly uplifting. If you do it for no other reason than the “feel good factor” I would highly recommend looking for  a way to get involved in something that helps others.

Towards the end of my time with Ernst & Young I led a project to look at the firm’s CSR profile in Scotland and Northern Ireland. This was a fascinating exercise. I kind of sensed that my day job was about to end and when the chance to be involved in something completely different came up  I jumped at the chance.  ( hmmm… a topic for a future post ).

Anyway this was about 5 years ago or so and CSR was the big thing. Many companies had been socially responsible for a long time but did not label it ( or account for  or report it) and some were forced to consider their CSR status by clients and customers who themselves were giving it more thought. I got the chance to meet many people who were involved in CSR activities within their firms.

Although CSR really covers the whole range of how an organisation interacts with its community - how it treats employees, suppliers and customers, sustainable practices including recycling, corporate governance and ethics amongst them  it was difficult to encourage people of focus on more than  supporting charities and giving something back. It was not, however, my job or intention to persuade anybody to do anything. I just wanted to understand where they were coming from.

This is where I had many interesting conversations with people about whether their “Personal Social Responsibility” should or should not be considered by their employer.

There is of course no right answer. For every person who would like time away from the office to do some good work there will be someone who would prefer their efforts to be anonymous. For every sponsored walk there will be those who want to do the walking and others who want to pay them to do so. It occurs to me though that I find myself often talking to people who personally and individually want to  do something.

But what ?

For my own PSR I recycle and no longer take plastic bags in the supermarket, I am clear where I stand on a range of ethical issues, I pay my taxes and obey the law and I support a range of charities with which I have a connection. My PSR profile allows me to consciously not donate to a huge range of causes but to focus on a few special ones that are close to my heart. I take the bus/train instead of the car when I can. It’s  a continuing thing for me - what appeals to day might be socially unacceptable for me at some point in the future.

Why not consider your own PSR profile. Realistically - like the companies I mentioned at the start - most people are already “socially responsible” in some way . It might be a good time to recognise what you are doing already.

While I am on the subject I wanted to share this website with you.

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