Stephen Settling Into KDS

Who’s the new guy?

On his first day he was shy and nervous, he looked lost and wasn’t the best at communicating with his fellow employees. He seemed out of place and everyone knew he was the new guy. “Hang on” , that was me on my first day of my new career as Head of Care with KDS Care.

Three weeks later Stephen joined us on a 6 month day release work placement, on his first day I saw all the traits and emotions that I had experienced as the first day of a new job can be very stressful on you and even the people around you. The apprehension of the unknown and being a new person can be overwhelming , but I also saw a determination in Stephen, a determination to succeed and a determination to achieve his goals.

Three weeks later and what a difference, what I see now is a young man who is focused, has a razor sharp memory, who’s time keeping is excellent, his attention to detail spot on and his desire and hunger to learn enviable. Yes his planning and organisation leave a bit to be desired and his interaction with other needs a bit of improvement, but I know many new starts who would be happy to have that said about them after 3 months let alone 3 weeks.

Yesterday Stephen worked to assist me in compiling a report on a few focus groups that we recently ran, I can do the writing bit easily enough as I love words but tables and diagrams, that’s another story, but in the true meaning of teamwork Stephen with his attention to detail flew through the design of all the cover sheet, tables, mind maps and flowcharts I needed. Yesterday I also watched a young man who has spent 3 full days with the KDS Group stand up in front of his peers and deliver his power words in a 5 min presentation, what struck me about this was that I’m a qualified Toastmaster and public speaking is one of the things I do, however I would have been nervous.

Stephen's journey has been remarkable and that I feel is down to him, down to the support of his new colleagues and the mentoring from the boss.

Posted by Unknown on 21 December 2010 in : KDS Training, KDS Youth Training, Personal Enhancement, Training corporate, Training employability

2 Comments

Posted by Joe Wilson on 23 December 2010

Haha - that first paragraph is exactly what I was like on day one at KDS. Brilliant description Edmund. I met Stephen briefly when I popped in the office and I can see the effects of "The Handshake". He introduced himself confidently, kept good eye contact and sounded quite surprised when I told him I''''d been watching his progress on the website. Do you think he''''s aware of how many people are following his journey? I think Stephen is surrounded by people who will make him feel that he can move mountains and I''''d really like to be there the day he decides which mountain he''''s going to move first. Rock on Stephen!

Posted by katie on 21 December 2010

I can remember that day one feeling clearly too and am sure it took me far longer than Stephen to become a fully functioning part of the team who was able to complete tasks so quickly and easily!! I know that Stephen will have a great future ahead of him! K

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