3 weeks in and I’ve certainly had some feedback on this, not all positive but as they say in HR, “all feedback is a gift”. So thanks for all your presents, Santa was busy.
It’s fair to say that certainly in the Broker market awareness of the name change is at an all time high (so it should be) and some say “bring it on”, “about time”. Others question the wisdom of the timing.
Let’s hit the timing question head on:
We’ve been planning this since 2002 and no time is absolutely perfect, there’s always a reason why not, a reason to postpone, a trap lurking behind a corner. When you know and you’re confident that your strategy is right (ours is!), your understanding of the challenges is clear (ditto), your planning and marketing insight is good (ditto), you’ve analysed your strengths/weaknesses (we do and constantly have them fed back) , when you’re aware of the risks and mitigate against them (we are, we have), when you’re clear that over the medium to long term your staff/customers/partners/shareholders will benefit from your decision (we are, they will, they will, they will, they will) then execute it and execute well, if not better than well.
The sort of feedback I’ve had ranges from:
“no wonder you’re changing your name – if I was cutting commission and increasing rates like you I’d change my name” (they will remain anonymous)
“Your competitors think you’re distracted and will make hay” (we aren’t, they won’t and see above)
“As market leader, good on you” (no, not from one of my team)
“Can you get me a Bruce Willis vest”
Well, actually, funny you should say that! The person who works for a broker who sends me the pithiest/funniest/clearest piece of feedback on the name change can have a signed Bruce Willis vest – he’s in our TV commercial by the way –
simply e-mail your entry to me at kitsoj1@norwich-union.co.uk
Anyway, we are changing and it’s a whole lot more yes, a whole lot more than a name change you might just see the name change for now but just wait, during 2009/2010/2011 we won’t ever be the same again.
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