By Adam Turteltaub

Compliance professionals can face a lot of resistance in the course of their work: leaders who don’t have the time, budget limits, managerial indifference, and even outright hostility. But, sometimes the impediments are inside us.

In this podcast, Kristy Grant-Hart, CEO of Spark Compliance Consulting and author of the new book Your Year as a Wildly Effective Compliance Officer, points out that sometimes we get in our own way. It’s just easier for us to see what the external blocks are than it is to see those we create for ourselves.

Overcome them, she argues by trusting your own value. Ask for what you want, and don’t trust that others will see the need. And, when you do ask, be sure to make clear what value the compliance program provides.

She also cautions against falling into Imposter Syndrome and feeling as if you don’t belong in the room. Sitting there quietly doesn’t help, in fact it hurts by giving others the impression that you and the compliance team are not adding value. Instead, speak up at every meeting so that you can be perceived as a contributor.

On the personal level, set goals for yourself. Pick an area to deepen your expertise and another to grow personally, such as in speaking publicly or improving your productivity. Also, look to growing your network. Plan on attending in-person meetings and then follow up with the people you meet there. Don’t just make them another entry in your Outlook contact list.

When it comes to those external barriers, she advises not taking push back personally because most often it isn’t personal. People have other commitments.

In fact, look at why they are pushing back and evaluate if the criticism is fair. If it is, then adjust your efforts. If it isn’t, let it go. Not everyone is going to get along with you.

Finally, she discusses how to ensure you don’t let work take over your life. Reserve time for family, friends and your passions, and keep those commitments. When it comes to after-hours emails and texts, don’t answer them if you don’t have to, or if you do, send a delayed respond. That way people learn you won’t be responding 24/7/365.

Be considerate, too. If you think of something in the evening and want to get a note out that isn’t urgent, be sure to let the recipient know they don’t need to respond right away.

Listen in to learn more about how to clear your internal path and become your own best ally in compliance.

Kristy Grant-Hart on internal Barriers to Success [Podcast]

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