The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect on the 25 May 2018. Here at KWC we take your security very seriously, so over the last year I have been busy attending GDPR events and holding regular office meetings in preparation for the change.
Don’t get in a tailspin over GDPR, here are my top 3 tips for making the most of this opportunity.
1. Build Better Relationships
They say your contacts are your biggest asset, but what’s the use of having a huge database if they aren’t engaged? To avoid those hefty fines, you are going to have to dust off that old Filofax and get talking to them if you want to keep them on your records. This is the perfect time to make the emotional connection and reconnect.
Over the next few months everyone will be inundated with requests under GDPR. What is going to make you stand out from the crowd? What are you going to offer that others won’t?
TIP: Get creative! Why just send a standard consent form when you can pick-up the phone and check what’s new with them, uncover their potential needs for the year ahead and genuinely catch up.
2. Create new habits
Are you guilty of an over full inbox? Do you save copies ‘just to be safe’?
STOP what you are doing and think – am I processing personal information, and do I have their consent?
TIP: We all need to get into a new mindset over personal information. Put the individual at the heart of your data processes and stick with it until you create a new habit and it becomes second nature.
3. Don’t get in a tailspin – Communicate!
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the GDPR changes.
"Am I a data processor or a controller? Do I need to store consent forms from absolutely everyone?"
The fines alone can keep you up at night.
TIP: Do not fret! Get talking to others and share your new best practices. There are plenty of GDPR events running over the next few months, so go out and get busy. Everyone is on the same boat so let’s make sure we are all going in the same direction!
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.) also has a wealth of information and resources you can refer to. If you ever get stuck, you can contact their helpline and talk through your proposed changes to make sure you are compliant.
As you finish off your cup of coffee I hope my top tips have given you a positive outlook on GDPR. The next few weeks shouldn’t be a boring process evaluation. At the very heart of GDPR are real individuals.
And we all do business with real people, don’t we?
BASIL IN A TAILSPIN
As a reward for making it this far in my blog, I would like to introduce you to my beloved Basil.
He has got himself into a bit of a tailspin here, so hopefully if you follow my tips above you don't do the same over GDPR!
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about the author
Julie McHugh is our Client Services Manager. If you would like to know more about GDPR, drop her an email and she will be in touch.
