Delivering Excellence
It is often argued in business circles that having a target of ‘excellence’ sets unrealistic expectations, which leads to demotivation as targets and indicators are unrealised. At Street Soccer Academy our objective of ‘Delivering Excellence’ is one of our four cornerstones and refers to our commitment to making constant improvements to achieve our ultimate goal. Nothing we do is purely for the benefit of the organisation, more so the people we have chosen to serve, our service users. Our strategy encompasses various dimensions, including leadership, service user focus and continuous improvement. In dedicating ourselves to excellence we consistently seek ways to enhance our procedures, outputs and services.
1 Strong Leadership
Effective leadership is crucial in achieving excellence. Leaders set the tone for an organisation’s culture, guiding teams toward a shared vision. In order to cultivate strong leadership Street Soccer Academy:-
- Lead by Example – Demonstrating the values we want to see in our staff and volunteers
- Empower Individuals – by encouraging decision-making at all levels of our organisation to foster innovation and ownership
- Communicate effectively – with clear, open and frequent communication to keep everyone aligned with our goals and objectives
2 Service User Focused Approach
A focus on service user needs is essential for our charity achieving excellence and long-term success. We do this by:-
- Listening to feedback – Regularly gathering feedback from our service users to identify areas for improvement
- Reacting to feedback – Using data analytics to tailor the services we offer to meet individual needs
- Exceeding Expectations – Going over and above in the support we offer, ensuring service users feel valued and appreciated.
3 Continuous Improvement
Excellence is not a one-time achievement; it requires ongoing appraisal. We have a culture of continuous improvement and value the 1% increments. We employ the following strategies:-
- Adopting best practices – We stay updated with FA and Charity Commission directives and integrate best practices into our processes
- Encourage Innovation – We create an environment where staff feel comfortable sharing new ideas and solutions
- Measure Performance – We closely monitor outcomes in terms of service user needs and make adjustments to seek continuous improvement
4 Employee Engagement and Development
A motivated and skilled workforce is crucial to achieving excellence in our work. We invest in employee engagement and development through the following methods:-
- Employees encouraged to pursue professional qualification and certification to enhance skills and knowledge
- Staff are encouraged to collaborate across departments and with partner agencies to create a culture of positivity
- We encourage extra-curricula activity by our staff members to develop skills for our mutual benefit.
- During appraisals an emphasis is placed on acknowledging successes, affirming good practice, rather than merely looking to correct poor practice.
- Providing all staff with direct access to a member of the Senior Management Team to encourage open and honest discussion and a sense of having a voice.
Conclusion
We view excellence for our charity as a journey, not a destination. By implementing strategies of strong leadership, a service user-centric approach, continuous improvement, and employee engagement we look to excel on behalf of our service users. After all, we are working on behalf of individuals who, whilst being supported by some high-quality welfare agencies, have still fallen into chaotic lifestyles and found themselves on the fringes of mainstream society. The quest to excel (surpass what has gone before) and ultimately find excellence is our attempt to find the key to unlock the potential that we see in every one of our service users and help them establish a self-sufficient, fulfilling lifestyle.
About the author:-
Simon teamed up with SSA CEO, Andrew Thorp, at the beginning of 2009 and is co-founder of Street Soccer Academy as a limited company and UK registered charity. Simon is responsible for the development of Street Soccer Academy’s corporate brand and acquisition of the prestigious England Football Accreditation.
Prior to involvement with Street Soccer Academy Simon was a director of Ambassadors in Sport and has a wealth of experience in grassroots football, as a player, coach, club chairman, having worked widely across the UK, USA, Europe and Asia. With a vast knowledge of running major tournaments and festivals, Simon organised the National Christian Football Festival for a number of years and was an executive committee member of the National Christian Cup. Simon is also responsible for devising the unique Soccer 24 fundraising concept, now used to raise funds for charities worldwide.
Simon’s vision is to see people being given hope and dignity through involvement in the quality football provision of Street Soccer Academy and the professional services & advice offered by partner agencies.
