It’s an important question, more relevant than ever in the exec community. We’re seeing an increasing flexibility and innovative approach to upskilling and filling the capability gap amongst directors in all sizes of business, especially in the SME sector.
More than an advisor, mentor or coach, a ‘Genie-in-the-bottle’ is a peer level advocate working full or part time on a temporary basis to fill a skills or capability gap, working with an executive with minimal management/overseeing.
More CIO’s, HR Director and FD’s dealing with organisational change and SME growth are making use of their peer level network to accelerate organisation transformation plus gain quick access to current and relative skills. Our search firm Robert James Raitt & Associates has seen a marked increase in the demand for non-executive hires and at TAaaS we are seeing a significant increase in the SME market adoption of fractional director and ‘Genie-in-the-bottle’ style advocate engagements.
One key area is the HR space, where board level Learning and Development and Organisational Change is a hot topic. An exciting part of being in the HR sector is seeing things develop and new ideas and attitudes to business. One of these is a friend and TAaaS associate Andrea Holton who is actively promoting this concept of a ‘genie in a bottle’. Andrea is available for a multitude of HR centric projects, some of her recent work includes:
- Introducing process and pace alongside a whole new perspective on recruitment and retention to solve a long standing issue
- Developing and implementing a total performance management system that lives all year
- Cultural change and engagement
- Large scale TUPE and change management
- Creating a bespoke template for a business HR Strategy and tools to implement
Importantly Andrea’s values permeate her style of engagement and she is passionate about her vision for a practical and effective HR capability. Andreas vision and aims are:
- Strong capable employees – effective recruitment and development
- Strong engagement at all levels – effective communication; the best benefits packages; ‘can do’ attitude; positive and open culture
- Strong results – productive and efficient team; commercially sound policies; cost effective HR
- A safe place to work
If we reflect on the Disney movie plot, Genies always appear when you need them and help take the pressure of a situation without drawing attention to themselves. No one else needs to know what they’ve done or about the process, just that the tasks were done to a high and efficient standard. I find this concept interesting as it encourages people not to look for interims or contractors but to get the help they need on a case by case basis by someone highly qualified, someone they can consider an equal.
To find out more about how we are different, what we are doing and to learn more about our HR support services, get in touch at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call me on +44 (0) 7585 008741
