One of the areas on which I spend most time is communication and good relations between people. We must have the right products, but also the right skills and expertise to communicate the right message and listen to customers. Even though we work with numbers, we ultimately work with people, which involves a great deal of cooperation and communication. In this way we relate to the people with whom we deal, and have good social skills.
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Rigmor Bråten, 43 years |
Qualifications: Business and economics degree, Oslo Business School
Title: Head of Major Client Banking
Location: Fokus Bank, Major Client Department
Experience: Joined in 2006 |
Total responsibility for own clients
I work with major clients who often have diversified portfolios comprising many different products. These can involve credit, financing, cash management, pensions, leasing and the like. What both the client and I focus on is finding the best solution. Personal relations are vital in this work.
Putting together a team for each client
In relation to the Bank I work as a kind of team leader, who puts together and utilises the expertise from many different areas. Clients have distinct needs and therefore I am in touch with many separate departments in the Bank when the time comes to assembling the right product package.
Focus on clients’ needs
My day can be very varied. I often have a client meeting at which I have to present myself and the Bank, but above all I listen to the client and the company for whom we need to find solutions. So the focus is on what the Bank can offer in relation to the client’s specific requirements, and how to arrive at a total solution.
It only works if we are the best
Before the next client meeting I spend some of my time, for example, on credit evaluation and how to find an acceptable solution for the Bank. At this stage I work primarily on the basis of our internal interests; then I meet the client and see whether I can sell the solution, often in competition with other banks. But you only succeed in acquiring clients if we are the best bank for them.
A cog which connects everything together
It is extremely satisfying for me when we find a solution which suits both the client and the Bank. I am extremely motivated when both parties are winners. I feel it’s like a cog which makes things work and connect together – and contributes to strengthening the client’s business. I’m one part of a total entity which is to everyone’s advantage.
Substantial, competent environment
For me, it is important to work in a professional environment in which personal learning and development processes are in focus. One of the advantages of being in a large organisation is that I rarely ever come across something that hasn’t been done previously in the Group, or for which there isn’t a solution. This raises the professionalism and provides me with opportunities in my daily work to develop myself and learn new things. It’s also a good feeling to be part of a competent environment.
Another advantage of the Group is that there are many opportunities if I would like to do something new. I can always find commitment because there is space in which to develop myself. If I felt that what I was doing wasn’t right any more, there are plenty of other possibilities.
More formal than my previous workplace
Fokus Bank is a little more stiff and rule-bound than the workplace in which I previously worked. You could say we are more formal. Personally speaking, although I am a little more informal in style, I see this as a positive aspect, and have adapted myself accordingly. It is really good, especially in the segment in which I work. Things need to be right and in order. A slightly more formal approach also reinforces the professionalism.