Lisa Killeen, office manager at Clarion Communication Systems Ltd, explains why Tom Hunt should win the Leader of the Year category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition:
Tom is an inspiring business leader with a profit and loss sheet to echo his impressive leadership qualities. He has an ability to build relationships with staff and clients alike and an infectious commitment to his industry.
He works hard and encourages his team to do so too but prioritises employee work-life balance (for example, he recently booked complimentary flights to Russia for one employee who was pining after his long-distance girlfriend but couldn’t afford to travel). The result is a thriving business with family vibes.
Tom is tirelessly positive even when unforeseen disasters seem overwhelming. He is chirpy and resilient in the face of repetitive grind, which maintains morale. His leadership approach celebrates the individual’s unique talents: He doesn’t just shout down orders, he holds space for the brilliance of others and allows his employees to shine at what they are good at. He assumes that everyone is a genius in their own way and has grown his committed team from 5 to 26 since 2012. Some have been with him nearly a decade; their longevity evidence of loyalty.
The company has grown its turnover and profitability year on year. Everyone involved is developing while the business operation becomes more lucrative.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the top three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
