The Reluctant CEO

I recently wrote a blog for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) entitled: 'The Reluctant CEO', a personal look at how I came to be in the role and and what the last two years have been like managing the charity during COVID-19. Via the NRAS website: lnkd.in/dvrb6TXs

[notsochunky]

I would just like to say thank you Clare for all the work you did during Covid, and will do in future.

[Hidden in reply to notsochunky]

thank you

[Neonkittie17]

From one glass half full girl to another! 👏🏻 (Although at the mo I’m struggling to keep it half full but I will keep trying!) Enjoyed reading that thank you. People skills are so important and you’re right we don’t always see our own worth and can’t believe we have the credentials to do well, but we do and you do! We are lucky to have you as NRAS CEO, thank you. 🙏🏻💗 Hope you will be able to resume your am dram if not already.

[Hidden in reply to Neonkittie17]

thank you for those lovely kind words. Hope your glass gets filled up very soon. We're all here to help as best we can so don't hesitate to get in touch.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Clare. I will. I’m trying to work though it all in a very business like manner and people are being so helpful with their experiences on the message board.

[Goldsky]

Thank you Clare for all you and your team do.

[Hidden in reply to Goldsky]

I'm lucky to have such a great team of colleagues. Thank you for your lovely comment

[stbernhard]

I read the blog and want to thank you and express my gratitude for your spirit, hard work and dedication. You have such a wonderful team which no doubt reflect all your qualities and you support and encourage each other all the time. What a lovely team of people!💖💖💖

[Hidden in reply to stbernhard]

Thank you for you lovely comments. I will share them with my colleagues. they are such a great bunch of people to work with. Thank you for your ongoing support to the organisation and being part of the NRAS family.

[Mmrr]

Clare, I often found in my own career that the people 'least likely' to be the leader on paper are the best person for the job. I am absolutely delighted to hear that someone without a degree can still make it and be successful in such demanding roles that you have now. You most certainly do not need a degree for many of these roles, rather a good dollop of experience, have a forward thinking attitude with robust listening skills, a thick skin and well developed people skills are what makes people successful. You seem to have these in abundance....oh and the ability to laugh at yourself and not take take yourself to seriously is handy at times too, you excel in this last point 😉. Not many CEO's would be brave enough to expose their vulnerabilities on a public website and forum, and we love you for it.

Well done to you and the magnificent team that surrounds you, I see you all as working with us rather than for us. Important.

(I spent the last 22 years of my working life lecturing and in educational management roles, I'm a big supporter of Education, Education, Education, but have an acute awareness of tertiary formal education limitations ).

[Hidden in reply to Mmrr]

Well you have me blushing with your very lovely comments. Thank you so much. You've hit the nail on the head when you said we are working 'with' you all not 'for' you all. Without the insights and input from people with lived experience we would not achieve and succeed the changes that are needed to as our strapline says change minds, services and lives. 👍