Keep your nails clean
Went to a novel event hosted by Lok Jack GSB that put Ron Harford centre stage. Ron has been at Republic Bank (formerly Barclay’s) for 47 years and is still its Chairman. I have seen Ron in action up close as a member the UWI Development and Endowment Fund Board. There he’s all management by objectives with a mix of old headmaster discipline and school boy charm. So when he told us his story of his move from the mail room to the board room, it seemed like a lateral move. Ron gets the job done. He has the record of performance to prove that. He has also managed to win friends and influence people along the way; people big and small.
He gave 17 pointers on what 47 years at RBL taught him. I want to share two of his gems. Firstly, “keep your nails clean” was advice given to him by a top English banker whom he got to meet while on training in London, that he in turn shared with the sold-out Lok Jack gathering. And the other “know who knows”; explaining that as a leader you did not have to know everything but you should know how to find the right person who does.
Ron Harford works hard and was one of the original geek squad. Studying while others played. I’ve been lucky to be able to work with him in the interest of UWI students. I’m glad he reminded me of what Sir Issac Hyatali told me, in another way, a long time ago: “to keep my nails clean.”
