From reactive to proactive: redefining leadership with Professional Services Together

By adopting the Professional Services Together framework and principles, Charlotte Vinnicombe, Head of Administration and Finance, has fostered collaboration, prepared the Law team for the streamlining of processes, and has laid the foundation for long-term growth and transformation within the Faculty of Law 

Charlotte Vinnicombe, Head of Administration and Finance for the Faculty of Law

Leadership is no longer just about responding to challenges - it's about anticipating them and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Reflecting on the key themes of the 2023 staff experience survey results, Charlotte Vinnicombe, Head of Administration and Finance for the Faculty of Law saw the Professional Services Together programme as a catalyst for change within the faculty. The Professional Services Together framework provided a clear path for improvements, offering tools and resources to support these efforts. This approach has formed the foundation of a new Law Professional Services Staff (PSS) People Plan, helping to shape the future of their team and the broader faculty. 

Shifting from reactive to proactive leadership 

Charlotte's leadership approach evolved with the guidance and approach of Professional Services Together. Instead of waiting to respond to issues as they occur, she began to anticipate challenges and proactively address them. This shift allowed her to focus on long-term improvements and strategic planning.  

By using Professional Services Together principles, resources and methodologies, Charlotte was able to make changes that addressed current problems such as workload, rapid digital transformation, and the need for greater efficiency. Her proactive stance is fostering a culture of Continuous Improvement within her team, encouraging consultation, innovation and collaboration. 

Demonstrating the value of change 

As in many cases, implementing change may initially be met with hesitation. For Charlotte, one of the biggest challenges was demonstrating that the changes would lead to real, tangible benefits. She worked hard to communicate how even small, incremental improvements could have a significant impact on the team’s overall effectiveness and morale. Through discussions and presentations, Charlotte built understanding and support for the transformation, helping her team see the value in the new approach. 

Working together towards common goals 

Professional Services Together plays a crucial role in breaking down barriers and fostering collaboration. Charlotte's efforts to unify the faculty and central University functions were driven by the shared ambition of supporting the University's mission and aligning with broader University goals.  

Regular consultations, workshops, and team meetings became standard practice, ensuring that everyone was aligned and working towards common goals. The support and partnership with the Dean, John Armour, and the involvement of academic colleagues in these efforts, enabled them to identify challenges and co-create solutions. 

Charlotte used the Professional Services Together themed discussion packs to introduce her team to the various tools and resources available to them. These packs helped her team explore how these resources could be used to enhance their work and personal and professional development.  The ‘Daily Update’ meeting format led to the introduction of more effective team meetings to cascade information and touch base more frequently with her senior team.Professional Services Together as a foundation for the new Law PSS People Plan 

The Professional Services Together framework helped lay the foundation for Law’s new PSS People Plan. This foundation supported the development of a well-rounded strategy to manage expansion, enhance personal development, and address challenges around line management , and workload management. 

Encouraging growth and development 

Encouraging personal and professional growth and development is essential for any team to thrive. Recognising this, Charlotte identified the barriers to training, such as workload and lack of resources, and prioritised these needs within her team. By implementing a training allowance of two days per quarter, with any type of training, networking or professional development activity counting towards the allowance, and encouraging staff to use it, Charlotte aims to foster a culture of growth and development. 

Moving forward together 

Charlotte has responded proactively to the major investment being made by the University it its professional services colleagues, regarding it as a collaborative approach to solving common problems that was provided at a time when it was needed the most.  By starting to embed the Professional Services Together framework and principles, Charlotte and her team are on a strong trajectory towards improving processes and established a strong foundation for long-term efficiency and transformation, driven by the Law Faculty’s shared ambitions. The team’s commitment to Continuous Improvement and collaboration has fostered a supportive and dynamic work environment. As they continue to implement the new PSS People Plan, the positive impact on their team and faculty is becoming clear, fostering a more efficient and collaborative environment together.