Leading with honesty – a CEO perspective
Many charities and voluntary sector organisations have had to quickly adapt the way they deliver services, suspend some activities altogether and get involved in the collective effort to meet the needs of the isolated and vulnerable. Much of this whilst grappling with staff on furlough, sick or self-isolating.
Fairplay provides support for children and young people with disabilities in Chesterfield and is a shining example of a local charity which has quickly adapted its offering to meet the needs of its service users. When the first lockdown struck it delivered telephone support to its regular centre users and subsequently reopened its doors in June 2020 - as a Covid-safe environment - to those children and young people whose parents are key workers and the most vulnerable, to ensure they received the vital human interaction and care which they need.
Heather Fawbert, CEO of Fairplay and Chair of DVA’s board of trustees
For this blog post we spoke to Heather Fawbert, CEO of Fairplay and Chair of the board of trustees for Derbyshire Voluntary Action, about how she has approached leading the charity during the pandemic and her advice for maintaining morale as we navigate the third lockdown and beyond.
As a leader your job is to inspire, motivate and ultimately, get the best out of people, but how easy has that been, given that everyone has been affected by the pandemic in some way or another?
My strategy from the start of this pandemic was to be as open and upfront with the Fairplay staff team as I possibly could be. No one, whether in government or otherwise, fully understood the impact this pandemic would have on the world in terms of human suffering or the economic crisis that will inevitably play out. I regularly meet with my staff teams to update them on possible ways to move forward. I ask for their suggestions and opinions and give everyone the opportunity to have their say.
How do you keep yourself upbeat and positive at work? You must have low days like everyone else; do you hide that from staff and pretend you’re superhuman?
Luckily, I am a very positive person by nature. I will always try and find the good in any bad situation. Outside of work I listen to music and read, go for the occasional run and I loved to swim before the pools shut down. At work I put myself forward to cover shifts so I can work with the children or young people. They always make me feel positive and remind me why I have made the decisions I have made. It’s always lots of fun and to be honest, you don’t have a minute to be anything other than upbeat and positive!
Do you share with staff that you have struggled to make a decision or do you just have the courage of your convictions?
No, I didn’t tell anyone that I was lying awake at night grappling with my decisions. When I’ve made any decision I am always assertive and give an explanation as to how that decision has been made and ultimately what the outcome will be.
People are understandably scared and anxious about their futures, this can either be about their health or their finances and I would never add to this burden. As a leader you have a responsibility to support your team and to show them that there is a way forward, to work collectively – in doing so, everything will be alright and if not, you will have done your very best and this is all we can seek to achieve.
How do you listen to people’s fears and concerns and show that you have taken those concerns on board? How do you ensure that everyone’s voice is heard?
I will include the Fairplay team where possible in any decision making. We meet regularly to discuss the current situation and to look at any financial impact. I have been very clear from the start that I will keep Fairplay on course throughout the pandemic. I have reduced the amount of meetings that I attend, especially those that aren’t going to be of direct benefit to Fairplay. I spend the majority of my working day in the Fairplay centre, talking to staff and offering them reassurance when required. Staff know me well and know that I will always make time for them to listen to their concerns or just to have a much needed cuppa.
Who inspires you as a leader?
My inspiration comes from the children and young people that attend Fairplay. My decision to stay open throughout the pandemic has been driven by them and Fairplay’s determination to provide a safe and supportive service to them and their families. I am also inspired by those workers on the ‘ground’ or ‘the front line’ who have worked tirelessly to maintain essential services. There are some real unsung heroes to come out of this pandemic. I am of course talking about the nurses and doctors but also the hospital cleaners, porters, volunteers, paramedics, teachers, class room assistants, health care assistants, bus drivers all of those workers who carried on providing much needed support in their communities. I am very, very proud that Fairplay has been part of this along side our colleagues in the voluntary sector throughout this very challenging year.
If you enjoyed reading Heather’s account of leading through the pandemic and would like more practical advice on leadership we are offering a FREE workshop on 'Dealing With People as a Team Leader' delivered by Andrew Deighton of AWD Development Solutions Ltd. Click the highlighted link to book your place or visit our Eventbrite page to see the full range of training available.