Upskilling teams - working with Oqema UK
Stefan Thomas
Professional Speaker for Business Events and Conferences | Keynote Speaker | Conference Speaker | Leadership & Communication Skills Trainer | Bestselling Author
In 2020 it is even more important than ever for every team and every team member to be on top of their skills. As the means of communication change, those core communication skills become vital. Ensuring that we not only get our message across but truly understand what our co workers, customers, suppliers, managers and everyone else we come across is trying to communicate to us, sets a team apart.
Earlier this year I got a call from Rob Moss, Managing Director of Oqema UK, one of Europe's leading chemical distribution companies, to ask if I would spend some time with their senior team, both as a group and individually.
These were people already at the top of their game, but with the rapidly changing landscape of both sales and management, as Oqema moved from having the whole team based in their Oxford and London offices, to all working remotely, it was important for them to move quickly, and ensure they remained there.
Steve Schellhorn Head of Sales for Oqema in the UK and Ireland said "this isn't just about sales. Our senior team are our communication channel not just to our customers across the world, but to suppliers and to their internal teams too. At the beginning of this year it was easy for one of them to attend a meeting anywhere in the world to negotiate terms with a supplier, or to hold team meetings at one of our offices. Now we had to ensure we could be just as effective, whilst doing everything by Zoom. Working with Stefan has really helped us to ensure that we continue to move forward, in what could have been a very difficult year for any business".
Networking, which I guess I'm best known for, is just a label for a set of skills and activities which can, and should be, applied to corporate work as well as for small businesses who attend networking events. Those core skills can be equally useful when applied to relationships between colleagues, and with suppliers and stakeholders in a business.
Working with Oqema has been a load of fun, and I look forward to working with them in 2021, as we get to grips with Brexit and any changes that could mean to their business.
Sales Professional at Innochem NV - Stockmeier Group
4yHere is to a strong 2021! Thanks for all your efforts Stef.
Business Consultant at Orangezone London Ltd
4yI think this is an aspect of the work of Networking Retreat that adds big value to business. The skills of building networks, and of communication, and all the associated skills, reach out far more broadly than attending a networking event. This is a useful read.