Poonam Harry is the Director of Harry’s Printers, a company with a 96-year history. She discusses the key to business longevity, how to keep your team inspired, as well as prioritising mental well-being in the workplace.
How do you stay motivated in the workplace?
I ensure that I always remember my ‘why’: the reason for doing what I do. In being able to uplift, inspire and impact the lives around me, from the team I lead to the customers and community we serve, I realise that my job is more than just what I do and the place I operate from. Being true to myself, my values and passions allows me to marry all these elements into the workplace and beyond — I try to constantly remember and live this daily.
How do you keep your team inspired?
I strive to create a workplace that is real and authentic, where we value our team members as people and not just employees. This includes having weekly Tuesday Training sessions where we touch base on anything from new product developments and innovations to the importance of self-care and team building and some fun and games, as well as daily and sporadic check-ins where we share our vision and reflect on the past week — looking at pitfalls and winning moments. It’s a constant conversation and allows open, honest and real leadership to emanate in all that we do.
What can women do to take care of their mental health and well-being?
This is no longer a luxury but a necessity in our daily lives. I have had to learn the hard way that we shouldn’t even be pouring from our cup, but rather from our saucers, as we have to be full first before we can serve or lead others. I encourage women to ‘find their happy’ – whether it’s taking 5 or 15 minutes or more for yourself every day to pray, be in nature, meditate, exercise, have some fellow girl power time or anything else that resonates with you. Ensure that you’re doing anything you can to fill your cup regularly so that you can pour out not just to yourself, but to those around you.
Can you explain the importance of ‘leading yourself to lead others’?
Today’s world, especially the Gen Z workplace, is increasingly looking for authentic leadership. According to authentic leadership expert, Bill George, your True North is: ‘the true compass that guides you successfully through life and is guided by an individual’s deepest values, passion and life story’. Knowing our True North is critical in the working world. If we don’t know who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe in, let alone where and why we’re doing what we’re doing, it becomes almost impossible to lead anyone else. I am deeply passionate about this topic as I lecture part-time at UCT on this.
Harry’s Printers has a long history. Looking to the future: what is the key to ensuring business longevity and that the business is future-proof for the next 96 years?
We are so humbled to still be standing after 96 years with strong foundations laid by my forefathers and mothers that paved the way for the fourth generation. It’s important to always remain ‘RELEVANT’ to your industry and the market you serve:
R: reinvent/reflect/innovate.
E: engage team members + clients + community + other stakeholders.
L: leadership.
E: environment.
V: value-driven.
A: authentic + adaptable.
N: new mindset.
T: thankful (+ technology).
Always be thankful and grateful to the Divine and everyone who has and continues to shape and mould your path. We are deeply grateful and honoured to do what we do and serve the people we serve, and we look forward to more than 100 years to come!
C1W Initiative
Change 1 Woman (C1W) aims to empower women in the branding, print and signage industries. As part of this initiative, Sign Africa would like to spotlight women-focused content like this piece. If you have any trend/business articles related to the signage, branding and printing industries, please email content to: meggan@practicalmedia.co.za. Follow C1W on Facebook and LinkedIn for more updates.
HARRY’S PRINTERS
https://harrys.co.za
