|
The “Accidental Business”
Margot’s initial vision was simple. She saw herself as a “one man band”, happy to write, speak and travel the world. But Margot’s husband understood that her unique insight into how individuals communicate - and how that impacts an organisation - could grow into a business much larger than a single person consultancy.
Margot’s initial concern was that 20 years ago there were few people with her skill set that Zaffyre could employ. As well as being an educational phycologist and a trained physiotherapist, Margot had run a group of companies, worked as an academic researcher and had an MBA. Her other concern was she had never had to sell herself, which would become necessary if she took on the responsibility of employees.
Until Margot completely embraced the idea of growing a business, things didn’t fully come together. But once the power of having an organisation behind her became evident, Zaffyre has grown at a phenomenal rate and is currently doubling every year.
With little interest in the day-to-day running of a business, Margot hired two exceptional general mangers to run company. This allowed her to train other people to carry out her work, and also to work closely with clients, to weave her magic.
What Does Transformation Really Mean?
 Companies are made of people and this is where the transformational process begins. Margot helps individuals within an organisation look at their belief systems, their communication skills and their relationships. This gives people a better understanding of how they interact with both their work and non-work environments, which in turn allows transformation to take place.
This type of intensive self-examination normally takes place in the safety of a therapeutic relationship and Margot acknowledges that doing so in a business environment can seem quite risky. But she says that almost all people come to see the process as truly authentic and embrace it.
 Better communication skills enable people to re-examine their way of operating within the organisation and finding better ways of doing so. The really powerful thing is that greater level of personal insight leads to an overwhelmingly positive impact on people’s families, friendships and their relationship with the wider community.
If this all sounds too “warm and fuzzy” for large corporations to embrace, Margot is quick to reinforce the point that more motivated and focused employees always leads to increased profits. She believes that a community is the ultimate product but the trick is getting the culture right.
A Dying Man’s Wish
A great example of the profound effect Margot’s work can have on an organisation is Portland Aluminium. This was built in a community that didn’t really want a smelter on its doorstep. The plant manager was David Judd, a man whose management style was intimidating and demanding.
When David called Margot in, he was seriously ill and wanted to leave a legacy to the Portland community, but knew the business had an unhealthy corporate culture. In a practical sense, some of the things that needed to change were the smelter was one of the most industrialised sites in Australia and rigid demarcation was rife. Also David’s management style needed to change.
Margot’s work not only changed the demarcation and union issues experienced by the smelter, but it had a profound impact on the local community. The outcomes included:
- Portland Aluminium became an internationally recognised innovation hub
- Employees created Smelter in the Park, a wetlands that won three World Heritage Awards
- The staff put 10,000 people in the wider community through a course to give them better life skills
- Staff went on the boards of local schools, hospitals and sporting groups
- The company built a crèche, a medical centre and a gymnasium
By any measure, David Judd left an amazing legacy.
Can it Work for Small Business?
Absolutely!
Margot says that small business are often more flexible than large ones, as they don’t have the restrictions of big organisations that are driven by systems and politics. She does, however, acknowledge that small businesses often lack the resources found in large corporations, but she believes this can be overcome by the business owner’s determination.
Margot says that a great example of the transformation process is her own business, which currently has 23 employees.
Some of Zaffyre’s corporate initiates are:
- Everyone has a self care plan for their growth as a person
- Everyone has a development plan for their professional growth
- Everyone has a performance plan, for how their role benefits the organisation
- Every person has a buddy within Zaffyre who they can turn to, day and night
- Every person works with a professional mentor one to two hours per month
- Teams within Zaffyre also have access to mentors
- Once a month all consultants are taken off-line for a day of replenishment, at which particular consultants share their specialised skills. These days are a chance for Margot to teach the consultants but they are also a chance for co-operative learning to take place. Some of the day is spent in groups, where consultants share what they have learnt the field.
- Once every three months Zaffyre International takes all staff members off site for retreats
- Zaffyre is considered a family, and family members of each employee are included in the company’s social activities
What Can I Try Straight Away?
One strategy that can work for small business is “Remembering The Future”. Because the brain can’t distinguish between a real memory and an imaginary one, regular group meetings imagining the future of the business – its successes both financially and as a community – can clear blocks that are holding people back. With a group dynamic at play, many facets are explored, and the group end up with a shared vision of the company’s future.
Margot’s Tips from her book, “Staying Sane in a Changing World”.
- Realise it is the world that is insane, not you
- You need to draw your head, body and soul together
- Work on your belief systems
- Don’t get caught up in the “doing” of the business
-
Believe in yourself and look after yourself, as you are the business’s greatest asset
Zaffyre International Today
Today Zaffyre is going from strength to strength. Margot says co-creating people’s business world and helping them contribute to society is as much fun as it was twenty years ago. She loves using her time to write, speak and travel the world - and to change it!
Source: Margot Cairnes interviewed by Paul Buckingham for the Small Business Mentor Club
|
