Removing the limits we set for ourselves
What was a bold moment in the workplace for you?
Part of the role of a finance director is to ask the difficult questions around our financial performance. 聽Sometimes I have to insert myself into monthly project reviews to get a better understanding of the financial challenges projects face and help project managers overcome them. While it can be difficult jumping into a project once work has already begun, it鈥檚 a regular and necessary part of business. As an outsider coming in, it takes being bold to dive into the process, get caught up to speed quickly and foster a shared understanding for better-informed decisions.
What motivates you to #BeBoldForChange?
Once I set a goal for myself, I鈥檓 determined to deliver it. I think this comes from my upbringing 鈥� in our family, our parents encouraged us to never give up and told us we could achieve anything we set our minds to.
Rebecca (left) with Marc Barone, managing director of 91影视鈥檚 U.K. Water business, on a site visit to the Deephams Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, U.K
Is there a person whose bold actions you admire and try to emulate?
I have a mentor and friend who is a real champion for change 鈥� she asks me all of the difficult questions I avoid asking myself and won鈥檛 let me get away without answering them! She encourages me to set specific actions and goals and then holds me accountable for delivering against them. I try to emulate this with the people I mentor. Whilst these conversations are often challenging and uncomfortable, they always crystallise the actions which result in progressing something to the next level.
How can others learn from your own experience?
It鈥檚 important for each of us to have a sense of belief and confidence in our own abilities. I think one of the best things we can do for ourselves is to remove any of the limits we unconsciously set for ourselves before we tackle any societal or organizational barriers. If we remove our own limitations, then we can really start to fulfill our true potential, overcome obstacles and accomplish things we perhaps never dreamed were possible.
I often come back to the saying: 鈥淚f not now, when?鈥� 鈥� a quote from the teachings of Baptiste yoga! In other words, don鈥檛 sit and wait to be ready; take the leap now with confidence that you are ready in this moment. Many of my bold moments have come about just after being appointed to a new role. At those times, when I thought, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 do this; this is beyond my capability,鈥� I鈥檝e found the strength from within to challenge that belief and actively contribute and voice my opinion, reminding myself that I have a valuable contribution to make.