Weekly Blog by Philip King, CEO of the ICM - 'Making a date with Destiny'

My Executive Assistant at ICM HQ, Tracy Carter, is also responsible for driving our social media strategy and activity. Last week she started a discussion on LinkedIn that has generated a riveting discussion. The question she posed was: "I had an interesting conversation with my 13 year old nephew about choosing a career, and he asked me if a career in credit management would be good and if it is important? How would you answer?"

There have been plenty of long-standing credit professionals like me saying what a brilliant career credit management is. They have highlighted positive aspects of the profession such as the variety it brings, the different skills it develops, the fact that it touches every part of the business, and delivers real value in many ways.

Some, including much younger contributors than me I'm pleased to say, have recognised that the role will become more strategic and less operational as technology continues to change the way we work. Others have stressed the need for personal and professional development as a way of building what is an interesting and satisfying job into a real career.

As with all discussion forums, the debate deviates from the original question and there is some disagreement, but the divergence of views adds to the vibrancy of the thread and I'm pleased to note that the underlying mood has remained positive. It should do so because many of the very senior people in credit I know could vouch for the career prospects as they have reached the top of their chosen profession and become key players within their own businesses.

As I write these words, I'm preparing for the latest quarterly meeting of the ICM Credit Industry Think Tank, the participants on which are all a testament to the opportunities afforded by credit management as a profession. Credit management is a dynamic and thriving profession and Tracy's nephew can be assured that it would be a good career choice. But let's not kid him. The reality is that it will be down to him to take hold of the opportunity with both hands and make the most of it. As one of the contributors to the LinkedIn discussion said: "....each individual is responsible for their own destiny."

Guest blog by Tracy Carter, Executive Assistant to Philip King, Institute of Credit Management

I was happy to accept the invitation to be a guest blogger until I realised that my blog would be following Nigel Fields’, a member of the Institute of Credit Management whose blog included the line “I have the best job in the world in ‘the movie business’ at Twentieth Century Fox”!  How do I follow that?  Well, I also feel that I’m lucky in my role; I work as part of a vibrant, enthusiastic and driven senior management team, for an Institute whose staff and members are completely committed to the work of the Institute and the credit management profession.

 

In addition to my varied executive assistant role, I’m also responsible for driving the Institute’s social media strategy.  I am truly passionate about social media, and particularly the benefits of social media as a communication tool for the ICM; our LinkedIn Group (ICM Credit Community) and Twitter account (@ICMorg) are good examples of how we can share what we’re doing, enter into discussions, and listen to credit management professionals.

 

Over recent months I’ve had the opportunity to speak, share ideas and offer advice to organisations, ICM branches, ICM members, and other professional bodies who are driving social media – the common feeling I’ve encountered is nervousness.  My advice is to ignore the nerves – start as an observer – sign up to LinkedIn and Twitter and watch for a while - you’ll soon discover a new world that you may even want to converse with.

 

Social networking is here to stay, and just like the arrival of email, it’s a communication tool that everyone can utilise – it’s happening with or without you! 

  

If you’d like to read Philip King’s weekly blog and other guest blogs click here or visit our Twitter page http://twitter.com/ICMorg.  You can also follow me on Twitter @TracyCarter.

Weekly Blog by Philip King, CEO of the ICM - 'Pre-holiday blues!'

Holidays from work – what a strange phenomenon!

We spend days or weeks planning to ensure things are taken care of while we're away; we work harder to make sure everything is as up-to-date as it can be; we look further ahead so that we're ready for events occurring soon after we return; then we head off to relax, even if a ‘holiday’ is just time at home to ‘chill’.

Then we return to an overflowing inbox and spend days or weeks working extra long days to catch up on those emails, meeting with colleagues to bring ourselves up-to-speed on what's happened while we've been way, sorting out things that might need attention, and complaining that it would have been easier if we'd never gone away! How many times have you heard someone say they'll need a holiday to recover from the effort involved in catching up from the last one!?

Of course, life goes on perfectly well without us. The economic travails of the country continue, and a couple of weeks passes in no time. We know holidays are a good thing to refresh and recharge the batteries so that we can bring the best to our roles through the rest of the year. I know I've seen some colleagues return from a holiday recently and been pleased by the positive effect their break has so obviously had as they settle back into routine. I'm currently going through the pre-holiday stress and will no doubt go through the post-holiday catching up trauma in a couple of weeks, despite those well intended resolutions while I'm away to get a better work-life balance and create more 'me time'.

This is the one time in the year when I genuinely turn off email, Twitter, LinkedIn and voicemail and switch off from the routine, and I have to say I'm really looking forward to it. For the first time in 28 years, I'm going abroad for a holiday with my wife unaccompanied by any of our children – just the two of us. I fear Mary might just need another holiday to recover from two weeks away with me!

While I'm away, I'm delighted to introduce two guest blog-writers. Next week, Nigel Fields Credit Director at Twentieth Century Fox and a Fellow of the ICM will be sharing some thoughts, and the week after it will be the turn of my very patient, loyal, and long-suffering Executive Assistant, Tracy Carter. I'll look forward to returning in a couple of weeks if I'm not too busy catching up on all those emails, meeting with colleagues to bring myself up to speed on what's been happening while I've been away, and needing a holiday to recover from all the catching up from the one I haven't even started yet!