<div class="gn-article"><div class="gn-hero gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-hero__image"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/68fa12040403a59958f8e7ea_651d3d4cd710c6475d9a678d_624da7f49b3e8685f52f7a3f_Leadership.jpeg" alt=""></div> <div class="gn-hero__head"> <span class="gn-kicker"><span class="dot"></span>Growth</span> <h1 class="gn-title">Leaders&#39; Perspective: The Best Advice I Can Give</h1> <div class="gn-meta"> <strong>The GO Network</strong> <span class="pip"></span> <span>7 April 2022</span> <span class="pip"></span> <span>5 min read</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gn-body"> <p class="gn-lede gn-reveal">Stepping into a leadership role for the first time is both challenging and exciting. Going from an individual contributor to leading a team is a positive trajectory for your professional growth, and it's natural to seek advice on how to navigate the transition.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Although everyone's journey is unique, there are always common challenges faced when stepping into a leadership role. To help those starting out, we asked individuals from across the industry spectrum to share any advice they received beforehand, and to offer their own now that they're seasoned leaders themselves.</p> <h2 class="gn-reveal"><span class="num">01</span>Our Leaders</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">This week we spoke to 3 leaders with different experiences of growing teams, communities and businesses alike.</p> <p class="gn-reveal"><strong>Amber Skinner-Jozefson, MBA</strong></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberskinner/">Amber</a> is the Chief Experience Officer at <a href="https://www.epoppay.com/">e.pop</a>, a digital receipts solution committed to driving a more sustainable way to manage payments. A start-up advisor, charity trustee and continuously recognised Fin-Tech leader, Amber has managed and led teams in the US and internationally for the past 10+ years with a track record of strategic transformation and building out commercially-driven growth teams.</p> <p class="gn-reveal"><strong>Joe Glover</strong></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josepheglover/">Joe</a> is a marketing leader and Co-Founder of <a href="https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/" target="_blank">The Marketing Meetup</a>, a global marketing community with over 27,000 members and growing. In his career he has continuously focused on driving the human support and interaction between professionals in the industry, with <a href="https://themarketingmeetup.com/events/">regular events</a>, podcasts and initiatives to uplift and educate other marketers in the profession.</p> <p class="gn-reveal"><strong>Paul Taylor</strong></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultaylor1978/">Paul</a> is SVP of Corporate Marketing at <a href="https://www.blueprism.com/" target="_blank">Blue Prism</a>, global leaders and pioneers of RPA technology. In his time across a number of leading Finance and Tech businesses including Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and many more, Paul has managed and led teams from 5 to 75 people across a vast variety of business areas.</p> <h2 class="gn-reveal"><span class="num">02</span>What Great Leadership Looks like</h2> <div class="gn-stats gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-stat"><span class="gn-stat__num">10<em>%</em></span><span class="gn-stat__label">of people are natural leaders, according to Zippia Research.</span></div> <div class="gn-stat"><span class="gn-stat__num">5<em>%</em></span><span class="gn-stat__label">of businesses provide formal leadership development at all skill levels.</span></div> </div> <p class="gn-reveal">Leaders are expected to have a wide mix of skills, from organization to communication to integrity, and with only 5% of businesses providing formal leadership development at all skill levels, developing and building out these skills is often left to the individual leaders to find their own way.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">So, we've asked our leaders to share the best advice they can give to new leaders, from their own experience getting started to what they've learned along the way.</p> <h2 class="gn-reveal"><span class="num">03</span>Starting out: What was the best piece of leadership advice you received when you took on a leadership role?</h2> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Understanding the goals of the people you lead</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"I didn't receive any leadership advice when I took on a leadership role, which says a lot about <strong>a general lack of training and preparation that goes into helping new managers transition</strong> into an entirely different job. One thing I've learned over the years and readily share with new leaders is to <strong>take the time to understand both your as well as each of your team members' three-year plans</strong>. Having this conversation (and it's an ongoing conversation) with your team will <strong>save so much time</strong> and will help you align what is actually important to everybody."<cite>Amber Skinner-Jozefson · CXO, e.pop</cite></blockquote> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img alt="A quote from Joe Glover, Founder or The Marketing Meetup" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/68fa12030403a59958f8e5e4_624db46d1e5c7505b4196fae_Leaders%25E2%2580%2599%2520Perspective_The%2520Marketing%2520Meetup.png" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div> <figcaption>Joe Glover, Co-Founder of The Marketing Meetup, on the role of a leader.</figcaption> </figure> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Understand that it's not about you</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"The role of a leader is to help set the course, and then give the freedom to the team to explore how to get to the destination. You can help correct the course through questioning, but <strong>it's not about helping you look good: it's about helping them shine.</strong>"<cite>Joe Glover · Founder, The Marketing Meetup</cite></blockquote> <h3 class="gn-reveal">It's the people who make the job</h3> <aside class="gn-quote gn-reveal"><q>It's the people who make the job, and serve the customers. Get the people piece right, the rest will fall in place.</q><cite>Paul Taylor · Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Blue Prism</cite></aside> <h2 class="gn-reveal"><span class="num">04</span>Leading day to day: What is the best practical advice you've received?</h2> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Don't overplay your hand</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"Don't overplay your hand or deliver too much too quickly. For most of us, especially new leaders who have much to prove, this is counterintuitive. In a nutshell, <strong>control your impulses and keep your ego/ insecurities in check</strong> to better manage output, protect your team and stem the flow of incoming demands."<cite>Amber Skinner-Jozefson</cite></blockquote> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Give your team the opportunity to learn for themselves</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"<strong>Great questions are a way to help folks get to where they need to be.</strong> Rather than saying 'I think you can do better', you could ask someone 'how do you think you could do better?' Allowing people to come to their own conclusions with your guidance is far more effective than simply dictating to someone your will."<cite>Joe Glover</cite></blockquote> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img alt="A quote from Amber Skinner-Jozefson, CXO of e.pop " src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/68fa12030403a59958f8e5ee_624db47f362a943ba82ea359_Leaders%25E2%2580%2599%2520Perspective_e.pop.png" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div> <figcaption>Amber Skinner-Jozefson, CXO of e.pop, on controlling impulses as a new leader.</figcaption> </figure> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Be present</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"<strong>Show up</strong>. It's all too easy to multi-task and not be present, try to make time for the things that matter (work, family, friends)."<cite>Paul Taylor</cite></blockquote> <h2 class="gn-reveal"><span class="num">05</span>Paying it forward: What advice would you give to someone starting out in a leadership role?</h2> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Respect the unique skillset</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"<strong>Management and leadership are specific and unique skillsets</strong> and should be respected as such. They require attention and practice in order to hone over time, and I strongly advise that all leaders, new and seasoned, continuously dedicate time to this as we have people's careers in our hands, which is something to take very seriously."<cite>Amber Skinner-Jozefson</cite></blockquote> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img alt="A quote from Paul Taylor, Senior Vice President, Corportate Marketing, Blue Prism" src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/68fa12030403a59958f8e5eb_624db4b9851a0c7f827c1cad_Leaders%25E2%2580%2599%2520Perspective_Blue%2520Prism.png" width="auto" height="auto" loading="auto"></div> <figcaption>Paul Taylor, SVP Corporate Marketing at Blue Prism, on advice for new leaders.</figcaption> </figure> <h3 class="gn-reveal">Jump in</h3> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">"<strong>Jump in</strong>, we all get imposter syndrome, we all feel we need more time to understand things, but humans are pretty good at survival, and the journey will be fun."<cite>Paul Taylor</cite></blockquote> <aside class="gn-callout gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-callout__label">What this means for you</div> <h4>Key advice from seasoned leaders for those starting out.</h4> <ul> <li><strong>Understand your team's goals.</strong> Take the time to understand both your as well as each of your team members' three-year plans.</li> <li><strong>It's not about you.</strong> It's not about helping you look good: it's about helping them shine.</li> <li><strong>Control your impulses.</strong> Don't overplay your hand or deliver too much too quickly.</li> <li><strong>Ask great questions.</strong> Allowing people to come to their own conclusions with your guidance is far more effective than simply dictating to someone your will.</li> <li><strong>Respect the skillset.</strong> Management and leadership are specific and unique skillsets and should be respected as such.</li> </ul> </aside> <p class="gn-reveal"><strong><em>For new leaders looking for an unbiased view on their strategy and external resource, The GO Network can help with that. From digital transformation to brand strategy, our team of industry experts are here to help you benchmark your state of play. </em></strong><a href="http://www.thegonetwork.com/get-in-touch" target="_blank"><strong><em>Get in touch</em></strong></a><strong><em> to get started…</em></strong></p> </div></div> <aside class="gn-related gn-reveal" data-auto="related-reading"> <div class="gn-related__label">Related reading</div> <ul class="gn-related__list"> <li class="gn-related__item"> <a href="/articles/finding-your-fit-managing-external-support-in-a-fast-growth-business-fe740" class="gn-related__link"> <span class="gn-related__category">Expression</span> <span class="gn-related__title">Finding Your Fit - Managing External Support in a Fast-Growth Business</span> <span class="gn-related__excerpt">Fast-growth agency leaders share how to assess, build and future-proof outsourced team structures, covering hiring strategy, performance mea</span> </a> </li> <li class="gn-related__item"> <a href="/articles/against-the-grain-sustainability-at-scale" class="gn-related__link"> <span class="gn-related__category">Expression</span> <span class="gn-related__title">Against the Grain – Sustainability at Scale</span> <span class="gn-related__excerpt">Cross-industry leaders share how to embed sustainability into agency operations, from ROI and strategy to framing initiatives and driving la</span> </a> </li> <li class="gn-related__item"> <a href="/articles/finding-the-right-agency-partners-for-your-business" class="gn-related__link"> <span class="gn-related__category">Expression</span> <span class="gn-related__title">Finding the Right Agency Partners for your Business</span> <span class="gn-related__excerpt">This recorded workshop walks through every stage of the agency search, from writing the brief to final contracts, with advice from in-house </span> </a> </li> <li class="gn-related__item"> <a href="/articles/mutual-success-getting-the-best-from-your-agency-relationships" class="gn-related__link"> <span class="gn-related__category">Expression</span> <span class="gn-related__title">Mutual Success: Getting the best from your Agency Relationships</span> <span class="gn-related__excerpt">Senior marketing leaders share frameworks for agency selection, performance benchmarking, and building partnerships that deliver at every st</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside>