Investment makes an Impact for Financial High Flier Katie Partridge
With an economics and politics degree from the University of London and with four years in the private client services team at a major investment bank in the City under her belt, 28 year old Katie Partridge is certainly on her way to becoming a financial highflier.
However, when she took advantage of an exciting opportunity to further her career, becoming the Director of Marketing and Client Relations at a recently formed hedge fund, she decided it was time to invest in herself.
Entering into a sales oriented role, with a remit to secure investment from new clients for the fund, Katie had to be able to influence and inspire potential investors. With this in mind, she embarked on the Developing Personal Presence programme at leadership and management development specialists, Jo Ouston & Co.
Katie explains: "Although I was always well prepared for presentations and meetings with potential investors, I felt there was that something missing. I wanted to go away knowing that I had made a positive impact and had got across what I intended to communicate. Being a female under thirty, working in a male dominated environment, I wanted to make sure I was being taken seriously and seen as credible and authoritative."
Designed to help participants develop the attitudes, behaviours and skills that enhance natural communication, the Presence programme included development of personal image through work on posture, balance, voice and physical manner; techniques to enhance listening skills and to reach out and include others; influencing others with integrity; building rapport; handling conflict and remaining in control of difficult situations.
"One of the first things that struck me on the course, is that only a fraction of the impact you make when communicating with others is down to the words you use. The rest is down to your body language and how you present yourself."
The programme provided Katie with a number of insights and specific learning points, which she has since used to improve her performance both in meetings and in her day-to-day work.
"An area I was particularly interested in was how to handle status in a meeting situation. In one exercise, we had to assess the status of the other person purely through eye contact when standing face-to-face. It was pretty unnerving at first, but it certainly gave me an insight into how we project image and gravitas to others. It has made me take a step back and focus on what I am going to do physically as well as what I am going to say, before going in to a meeting.
"The programme also made me realise that I need to improve my listening skills. On reflection, it was often the case during difficult questioning from a potential investor that I'd be quick to leap in with a solution before listening fully to their concerns. Now that I've slowed down in meetings, I am able to give a more confident and considered answer, as a result of which I am taken more seriously than I was before."
Katie concludes: "I refer back to the video recordings and notes from the programme and aim to use the techniques I learnt in all aspects of my work. Like anyone else, I'll never be 100% satisfied with my performance, but by simply being aware of my potential weaknesses and learning what does and doesn't work for me, I feel I am constantly improving."
