Always Learning: How Real Life Shapes Great Leaders

"I haven’t got time for training and CPD!” This is probably something everyone has either heard, said or thought. I admit I had a few years where my formal CPD was limited, but I would argue we’re always learning and adjusting throughout life in some way, whether we’re intentional about it or not, as our life experience shapes us. That process of constantly evolving is my starting point when reflecting on my management and leadership journey in the sector…

…It dates back to 1989 and North London, before I even knew what the words 'management' and 'leadership' meant. According to reliable sources, I made the bold decision as a toddler to support Arsenal, despite being near Tottenham FC’s stadium. A move to Devon got me out in the fresh air and back to my senses, leading me to commit to supporting Liverpool. Growing up, I was immersed in sport, predominantly football, and came across some brilliant coaches and managers who were role models in the way they conducted themselves. I saw and felt the profound impact of a focus on the person first and foremost to build a relationship which ultimately supported sporting success. I saw people conducting themselves with humility, honesty and integrity, which resonated with me. I also came across a few characters who thought the louder and more aggressive they were on the touchline, the better impact they had! Maybe not ones to model, but certainly some good learnings around how not to do things.

From the Touchline to the Workplace: Early Role Models

Work experience through my teenage and early twenties again exposed me to managers and leaders, this time in a work setting, and again, on reflection now, has shaped the type of manager and leader I aspire to be. I leapt forward when Sport Structures took a punt on me, and I was promoted to a business manager role in 2016. This was a fast-paced learning-on-the-job environment where I was fortunate to be given responsibility for developing our apprenticeship and funded provision. I was enrolled on a Higher Level Apprenticeship in Management and Leadership to give me the tools and techniques to be more successful in my role. Unfortunately, the training I received from the provider was really poor, a tick-box exercise regurgitating the learning I was getting in my role to meet the criteria. It did teach me a few things, firstly that I was learning a lot and fast! Secondly, the exercise of reflection is so important; so much can happen and taking the time to process it and reflect is so powerful.

I’ve been fortunate in my time at Sport Structures to have some excellent mentoring and guidance from other colleagues, and I’ve also made my fair share of mistakes that can often be the best learning! Not tackling things early and avoiding difficult conversations are never going to end well. As my role has developed and the team has grown, I’ve found myself being further removed from the day-to-day operations. I can’t remember every apprentice’s name now! After being so involved at the inception, it’s been a challenge to step back, but it certainly helps when the team are so good. In recent years, my role has evolved to include wider company responsibilities, and I am grateful that Sport Structures has invested in me, allowing me to enrol on the Senior Leader apprenticeship, which I’ve recently started at Cranfield University. It came at a good time in my life to pick this up, and I’ve already learnt too much from it. Worlds apart from my previous apprenticeship, this is challenging me to think differently and have a wider perspective, and it is letting me apply new ideas and concepts into my work. Yes, I’m biased, but it really is why apprenticeships are such an amazing tool for positive change, gaining knowledge and theory and having the ability to apply it practically to see an impact.

My Key Takeaways

My key takeaways from my management and leadership journey so far:

Act and move forward in alignment with your values; it’s easy then to justify anything when it comes from an authentic place.
Take time to reflect, it’s incredible how much you can get from it.
The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know, so be open to learning.
Life and work are a people-focused gig. Accept people for who they are and treat them how you would want to be treated.
The more senior you are, the more you need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
Be open, not resistant to change, stay curious and open-minded.

Learnings from mistakes are the ones that stick most. Leave the ego at home and accept your faults and those in others; none of us is perfect!

My leadership and management ride doesn’t end here; it is ongoing, and who knows where it will end, but as they say, success is a journey, not a destination. You’d have to ask my team if success is the right noun for that sentence in my context, but looking back, it’s clear I’ve changed over the years, and I’m now looking forward to what I’m aspiring towards. “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge”. This sentence best encapsulates what I believe leadership should be, and having the skills to navigate that responsibility is what I’m still working on and always will be, but I think that’s part of the fun of it all!