It is often (rightly) said that customers or clients who return time and again are the best thing for business. At the least, it shows the business is doing the right thing by the customer. It is also said that consultancy practices (be they legal, accounting or “other”) are “people businesses” who are only as good as the people they employ. What is less often acknowledged is that employees are a bit like customers: they can leave, and try someone or something else. There is no obligation for them to return, just as there isn’t for a customer. But if they do, then surely that says something positive about the business too. Interestingly, where the employee is client facing, it is a vote of confidence in the business’s clients as well.
I am happy to say that, for the second time in five years, someone in my team who had left, has returned. Now, some readers will think that I am attempting to turn water into wine with this. After all, if it’s so great, why did they ever leave? Let’s deal with that first. The one who left last summer, but returned today, took a break to travel the world. We were sad to see him go. We were able to deal with the gap, but we had not wanted one. On his return, and with the possibility of other firms offering good positions, he nonetheless came straight back. He had had time to think, outside of the day to day pressures, and he wanted to come back to a good VAT team, great tax colleagues, excellent colleagues all round, and, very importantly, really decent clients.
The earlier example involved a colleague who tried an alternative, which he owed it to himself to do. He saw what another place had to offer. He saw the comparable clients. He came back after eighteen months.
Both colleagues were an investment for us, since people businesses invest in people. That investment returned intact not once but twice. All my VAT team members are professionally qualified and understand our market segment. They understand what the clients need. Clients as a rule like continuity, but they like advisers who develop and aren’t too timid to take the plunge, or take a calculated risk. When good colleagues return to an organisation, when they risked an alternative, with no guarantee of a path back (as here) that creates a particular kind of quality.
Which is why 3rd May 2011 has been a good day. An affirmation of our business. Affirmation, as well, for our clients.
Terms & Conditions
- Information and ideas shared in this blog are intended to inform rather than advise. Circumstances vary greatly and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial you should contact us before implementation. We will not accept responsibility for any financial or other loss incurred as a result of the action you take from reading these blogs and their comments.
- haysmacintyre reserves the right to delete or alter posts at its own discretion and without notice or explanation. Comments posted on the site which haysmacintyre deems to be unacceptable or inappropriate will be removed. This includes but is not limited to:
- anything which is obscene, pornographic or otherwise objectionable or illegal;
- violations or infringements of any statutory, common law, copyright, design right or any other intellectual property rights of any other person or entity;
- commentary which contains material which would be in breach of confidence or in contempt of Court;
- viruses or other similar contaminating or destructive features.
- Outside of UK office hours, comments will not appear on the site until they have been accepted by the moderator.
- Your name will be displayed by your comment. All other personal details will remain private. haysmacintyre will not add your details to any of its mailing lists or its database unless specifically asked to do so. (Please complete our newsletter sign up form if you want to be added to our mailing list). Your details will not be shared with third parties.
- Material may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way except for your own personal non-commercial use.
- While haysmacintyre will keep web links as up to date as possible, it cannot guarantee the suitability or accuracy of content to any other sites.
- For more information please read our full privacy policy.
- If you have questions or concerns regarding the use of the haysmacintyre blog please call our marketing team on 020 7969 5668 or email marketing@haysmacintyre.com
Media right usage
If you seek permission to use these blogs or any of their content on your own website or as the basis of an article you are writing, or to interview the author, please contact our marketing department on 020 7969 5668.