Back in 2002, Sukhbir Dhaliwal came up with the idea of providing innovative and affordable financing solutions to businesses throughout Canada. The idea took the shape of Peel Financial. Over the past two decades, Peel Financial has grown from a small, one-man business into a company with over 70 employees with offices across Canada. It is today Canada’s largest independent equipment financing company with head office in Brampton, Ontario, and regional offices in British Columbia and Manitoba. It has recently acquired another retail facility in Alberta and plans to expand throughout Canada and the US in coming months and years. Having worked in the car sales sector before starting Peel Financial, Mr Dhaliwal’s priority has always been to build trusted client relationships, understand their business needs and provide the best professional service in the market. Sharmila Chand chats up with the Peel Financial chief and is amazed by his business principles and practices.

Your five management mantras

Dedication: It is essential for a leader or manager to have sincere dedication and unparalleled enthusiasm for the business and its products. Your employees and customers can recognise insincere cheerleading from a mile away.

Honesty and Integrity: Both are the key in building trusted relationship with your customers and employees. Whether it is acknowledging mistakes, or giving credit for achievements, or being open and transparent about business deals, great leaders always exhibit integrity. When people see evidence that leaders lack integrity, that can be nearly impossible to recover from. Today, at Peel Financial, a majority of our client base is repeat customers and our employee retention is next to none in the industry.

Good Communication Skills: Leaders must motivate, instruct and discipline the people they are in charge of. Leaders who fail to develop these skills are often perceived as being weak. It is also important to understand that being a good listener is also an essential part of effective communication skills.

Loyalty: The best leaders understand that loyalty is not a one-way street. True loyalty is ensuring that all team members have equal opportunities and are treated with fairness. It is standing up for your team members in crisis and conflict. Employees who believe leadership is loyal to them are much more likely to show their own loyalty when it matters.

Empowering Employees: A good leader always empowers his employees and allows them to grow and express themselves. When employees are empowered, they are more likely to make decisions that are in the best interest of the company and the customers.

A game that helps your career

In my younger days, I used to be an avid cricketer. I still try my best to find time to watch all the international games on television. Cricket bat these days has been replaced with a golf club though. I do enjoy playing a round of golf with friends and business colleagues, whenever I get a chance.

I have always been a strong advocate of work-life balance. Work-life balance is an integral component of a healthy work environment. The pressure of working, especially in fast-paced, rapidly-growing companies, invariably causes stress. Playing sports is a great stress-buster I feel. Physical exercise has been recognised as one of the best means of reducing stress overall. Maintaining a healthy balance between work and life is critical to ensuring the wellness of your team as well as cultivating a healthy and productive workplace steeped in positivity.

Secret of your success

On a business level, my barometer of success is limited to my customers and my employees, whom I treat as my extended family. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a beaming smile on the faces of my returning customers, day in and day out. My customers know that my team and I will not give up until we secure the best deal in the market for them. And what better inspiration and success story in this world than knowing that I am able to support and empower over 70 employees and their families through Peel Financial.

On a personal level, I strongly believe that success should be measured by qualitative standards, not quantifiable ones like one’s wealth. True success for me is the quality time I spend with my loved ones, the positive impact I have on others or the balanced lifestyle I lead. Feeling of happiness, fulfilment and success are not reserved only for those who have lots of money or material possessions. Those who wake up in gratitude face each day with a brightness of hope. I believe this hope is worth a lot more than the money one owns.

Your philosophy of work

My philosophy of work is quite simple. To treat my customers, business associates and my employees like a big extended family, and for my extended family to value my company as much as I do.

Best advice you got

Be kind to people, and treat them the way you would like to be treated! This advice has stuck with me throughout my entrepreneurial journey and paid rich dividends.

Your favourite books

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek: This book analyses problems from many angles, including those of managers, workers and society at large. He acknowledges both the idealistic and the realistic aspects of leadership in the workplace. I found it an excellent read and came out with many takeaways.

A leader’s job is not to just command and order but to ensure that all people under him are equipped to succeed and empowered. Leading with trust and integrity is a must. Nobody expects leaders to be right all the time, but they expect them to own up to their mistakes. A good leader is always in touch with his people. It helps reduce abstractness and creates a human connection between leaders and employees and increasing mutual loyalty.

Your message to youngsters

I have always believed that if opportunity does not knock, it is time to build your own door. A successful business will not just fall in your lap. You must believe in yourself, and take a leap. Small steps lead to big things. Just be honest to yourself, and put your best foot forward. And be ready for challenges you might face along the way. Success is not an overnight phenomenon. As long as you are ready to persevere and not give up on your goals, you are bound to succeed.

How would you define yourself in one sentence?

I would like to describe myself as someone who is honest, integral, compassionate and hardworking.Sukhbir Dhaliwal Founder, Peel Financial