Sam Myatt

Sam Myatt has worked for business communications solutions firm Network Telecom, in Telford, for the past 10 years.

EXPLAIN A TYPICAL WEEK IN YOUR WORKING LIFE: - Resolving issues, writing new processes, reporting on data, contacting customers, and training both staff and customers

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW? – Differentiation; standing out from the crowd and providing a truly end to end solution with unique features and benefits, all backed up by good support and knowledge.

AND WHAT ARE THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES? – Big opportunities for us come from new business and innovative technology. Exploring the avenues that drive this is one of our main focuses; whether it’s word of mouth, direct sales or marketing.

HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR STAFF? – Never aim to “catch them out” try to “catch them IN”. Praise where praise is due, recognise personal achievements, and to develop a culture of being “free to ask”, and “free to act” is what drives our staff to be the best for themselves and us.

WHAT WAS YOUR LAST MEETING ABOUT, HOW LONG DID IT LAST, AND WAS IT PRODUCTIVE? – My last meeting was to discuss a process change to customer services and how the management of data can be improved to heighten our ability to give good and meaningful information to customers no matter who they speak to.

HOW MANY EMAILS DO YOU GET IN A DAY, AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO READ THEM? – I get between 70 – 120 emails a day, and I get very little time to read them. Being able to prioritise and delegate is the biggest challenge when dealing with this level of information.

DO YOU ANSWER WORK CALLS OR EMAILS AT HOME? WHAT’S THE RIGHT WORK-LIFE BALANCE? – I am freely and willingly available to customers and employees any time they need me. I take my holidays as time off, but working weeks; if I’m free, I’ll always chip in. We never expect this attitude, it’s purely a “work culture” that is never expected, but often adopted.

HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU? – As a go to guy who has the answers, and if he doesn’t, will go and get them.

BREXIT – WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF WHAT IT’S ALL GOING TO MEAN? – Albeit that some businesses are currently in limbo; waiting before they commit to any big spending or contracts, I feel Brexit will have a much lesser impact than predicted to our industry.

HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR? – I like to think I have personally enjoyed many highlights alongside the company’s varying successes, and I have always felt a part of these. Personally, being offered new challenges to implement new processes, and to train all of our staff on the roll out of them, has been endlessly rewarding.

PET HATES? – An unwillingness to be open to change, and chewing with your mouth open.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME WISE ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? – Never turn down a challenge, and whenever faced with any job or task; no matter how small or seemingly insignificant; ALWAYS do the best that I can, and learn from it. It gets noticed eventually.

HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? – Gym, movies and cycling

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE SHROPSHIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? – A family culture and the openness that comes with it.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW. – I still can’t do the single loop shoelace tying technique, I still do the two loops, like a kid!

YOU CAN TAKE ONE BOOK, ONE FILM AND ONE CD ONTO A DESERT ISLAND – WHAT WOULD THEY BE? – Book = Dan Brown – Deception Point / Film = Inception / CD = Tchami “shot caller”

YOUR FIVE DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE? - Stephen Fry, Nicholas Tesla, Dara O'Briain, Judy Dench, Michael Stevens (Vsauce)

WHAT WOULD YOU COOK FOR THEM…? – A damn fine chilli con-carne