Mentoring : A Two-Way Street

Over the years, I have been approached to offer informal mentoring support to a number of colleagues in senior leadership roles in the social sector. I refer to them as informal, as I do not have a professional qualification in mentoring (and hope that I get that one day in the near future). That said, I do feel that I am able to offer mentoring support, drawing on my experience and my learnings, both positive and negative. And often, I wish I had access to that form of support when I was much younger. I have also been approached by a number of young professionals who are in the early stages of their career. I find these conversations extremely stimulating and enjoyable. I have restrained myself from offering coaching support, as I do not think I am good at coaching. One of the essential skills of a good coach, as I have understood, is being able to ask questions that make the other person think and reflect. I do not consider that as a strength of mine and instead, I am happy to offer advice and suggestions based on my own experiences and what I have learnt from others who I look up to or have sought advice from. The main reflection I have had is that mentoring is a two-way street. From each of the mentoring conversations, I realise that I have learnt at least as much or even more than the mentee. Hence, I find these extremely stimulating. The questions I get asked often get me thinking deep and drawing on the relevant experiences I have had. And more often than not, I realise that I have learnt as much from my positive experiences (e.g. an inspiring line manager, a conducive work culture) as much from my negative ones (e.g. toxic work culture, insipid leadership). One also realises that with the benefit of hindsight, things could have been very different if I had approached a particular situation differently or been more empathetic. That, to me, has proved to be therapeutic in many ways, as I am able to take a more objective view of myself and the decisions I have taken, with humility while also acknowledging the contribution of those around me. I am able to let go of some of my grudges, have a more generous view of others, be less defensive and be more cognisant of my conscious and unconscious biases in the process. There are some broad themes that I get asked about, and more often than not, they fall in the following 3 categories : 1. Decision making : All leaders struggle with decision making. There is either too much or too little consultation. A decision has multiple implications, some positive and some negative, all of which may not be quite apparent at the time of taking a decision. There is also the context and the urgency that impacts on decision making. Expectations all around need to be managed. There is a personal responsibility that needs to be taken for decisions made, irrespective of the consequences.Decisions need to be based on evidence (the easier part) and also a judgement one needs to make (a much more difficult call). That is what makes decision making quite complex and very fascinating, but equally something that can be a genuine struggle for those in leadership roles. 2. Managing relationships : As one gets into senior leadership roles, in addition to the competency requirements for the role, managing relationships becomes even more important. Collaboration, building trust, mutual respect, accountability and responsibility are all areas that are critical in managing relationships. These could be one-to-one relationships and also relationships within a team or with another team. For those in CEO roles, managing relationships between the executive team and the board is of paramount importance. It is hence not surprising that one needs a high level of emotional intelligence to manage relationships, not just to ensure that they are positive, but also that they are productive. 3. Career choices and progression : Irrespective of what stage one is in their career, there are choices to be made while considering a career move in terms of the role, the organisation and areas one needs to think about while positioning oneself better in terms of career progression. There is also a more difficult ‘purpose’ question so that career choices align with the motivational factors that influence the ultimate decision regarding a career move. The art of decision making, managing relationships and making career choices can never be mastered. One can only evolve and improve one’s understanding, reflecting on one’s own experience and learning from others. Hence, when these mentoring conversations touch upon these themes, I find them incredibly valuable in thinking of my own learning journey and capture, for myself, key learnings from over the decades. Colleagues with whom I have a mentoring conversation are all very generous in acknowledging the advice I am able to share and how it helps them navigate through some complex phases in their professional journeys. That said, I invariably feel extremely grateful to them for being instrumental in pushing me to delve into the deep recesses of my own professional journey and catalyse a process of self reflection and learning.

Leading a Smaller Organisation

 

In December 2020, I stepped down from my role as CEO of ActionAid UK to join STiR Education UK as its CEO. It raised some eyebrows amongst my peers and friends. ActionAid UK was a much larger organisation with an annual turnover of £ 50 million, a staff of about 200 and supporting other ActionAid members in about 35 countries in the global south. It had a 48-year old track record in the UK and was a relatively well known organisation in international development. STiR, by contrast, had a turnover of under £ 3 million, had 70 staff globally and worked in 2 countries. While it was well known in the education sector, it was less known within the broader international development sector. But, it was a conscious decision, and after 3 full years, I have no regrets. In fact, I have found it an immensely fulfilling and rewarding 3 years.

As I approached the 5-year mark with ActionAid UK, I had started considering what my next move could be. The Board had identified two key priorities when I started in August 2015 : create a strong identity and ensure financial sustainability. At the end of 5 years, thanks to the work done by the amazing team at that time, we had made significant progress. And even though there were some unresolved challenges, I was also clear that there was never a perfectly good time to move on. Having created its identity as a leader on the rights of women and girls, I was very clear that the next CEO for ActionAid UK should be a woman, with deep knowledge, experience and commitment to rights of women and girls.

So what attracted me to STiR ? At the time I started exploring, I was not interested to do ‘more of the same’ and move to another organisation that is similar in size and scope. I was looking at something radically different that would take me outside my comfort zone and offer me an enriching experience, challenge and learning. I had ruled out the national charity sector given that I did not have a sufficiently good understanding of the sector. Within international development, there were some sectors (like health) that I was less keen on. Education has always been a passion for me. STiR’s approach of working in ‘systems-led partnership’ to improve learning outcomes for children (i.e. working on the ‘supply side’ of systems, which is very different from the ‘demand side’ accountability work that I was more familiar with) was a very attractive proposition. While it was a small organisation, it was ambitious and creative. I could see the power and potential of small investments, that could led to significant change and transformation in education, which can be sustained by governments. It was a bold approach to change.

I did speak to a few of my trusted friends and peers on the prudence of this move. Some were unsure, some were indifferent, some mildly discouraging too and not quite sure why I would ever consider that move. It was very clear that it had to be a decision that I fully bought into. The one person who absolutely encouraged me to go for it was Richard Hawkes, CEO of the British Asian Trust, who had made the big move from large organisations like VSO and Scope, to lead the British Asian Trust at a time when it was relatively unknown (it is a much bigger and better known organisation now, thanks to his amazing leadership !). He said that he had never looked back and described the joys (and challenges) of working in tight and resource stretched environments that could be very stimulating when compared to the complexities and chaos of large organisations with the perennial internal dynamics, even if one had the comfort of a known brand, sound financial reserves and the support paraphernalia.

I now see why Richard was so convinced. Looking back at the past 3 years, there are a number of personal reflections :

1. Working in a small organisation, especially when making a shift from a much larger organisation puts one outside one’s comfort zone. And even if you are not adept at multi-tasking, you do end up doing a number of tasks that you thought you were never good at or would never do in a larger organisation. I felt that a number of times, and especially when it came to fundraising. Previously, I was just wheeled in to a discussion to help with building and managing relationships, but in this case, I often found myself engaging at a very early stage, or even scouting for new donors and opportunities. It was similar when it came to the policy arena, be it making the connections, engaging in conversations, trying to influence policy. Unlike large organisations, there are not teams to do this for you – instead, you do it yourself with the support of a couple of colleagues, when you can, as they too are overstretched and need to focus on other priorities.

2. I miss the vibrance of a large organisation even with its complexities and chaos. Something or the other is always happening, triggered by internal team or individual dynamics, or external developments that push you to taking public positions. However, in a smaller organisation, I feel a greater sense of focus and purpose. We have a clear set of priorities. I feel that I am able to contribute in more meaningful ways. And that means that at the end of the day, I also feel very purposeful and productive as I am not dictated by the dynamics I have little control over. There is also a much greater flexibility and responsiveness in a smaller organisation and one can move with pace. The limited resources we have also means that we do not have the luxury of time and going into endless deliberations and consultations. Change therefore happens much faster.

3. There is a stronger sense of being more mission and values oriented. In a smaller organisation, it is easier to connect which makes that possible. Even though I am based in London and we work across 4 countries, I feel I am able to reach the various corners of the organisation with ease. The gap between senior leaders and other colleagues is much less, even if we are dispersed across 5 countries. Communications are easier and quicker. The sense of entitlement is much less as colleagues feel more connected with the mission. It is easier to create an inclusive culture and a trusting environment. Collaboration between different functions and geographies are easier to forge. The overall impact of these is that the organisation is more coherent in its approach and yet able to relate to its local contexts.

This is not to say that all is well with small organisations. As I mentioned, resources are very limited. As organisations with very low communications and PR budgets, it is difficult to create a strong external profile and fundraise. Unrestricted income is extremely difficult to raise. A number of donors can be a lot more demanding on smaller organisations when it comes to questions of evidence (as compared to larger organisations, whose brand reputation provides them with the tailwinds). There is often a ‘credibility deficit’ when it comes to smaller organisations and we need to prove ourselves and our effectiveness every now and then.

At a personal level, I also realise that I do not have the benefit of the organisation’s brand reputation that precedes me and help open doors. That is a huge benefit for the CEO of a known organisation. It is something one constantly needs to push and persevere. Yet, in terms of fulfilment and being able to see how one contributes to the organisation’s growth and success, it is a very rewarding experience in a smaller organisation.

The risk was worth taking and I have thoroughly enjoyed my stint here. It does not mean that I will be averse to considering a larger organisation at some stage in future and if it offers an interesting challenge that is beyond its size and scope. The large organisations have played a significant role in building a case for support for international development with the public and policy makers and have achieved tremendous impact in both, humanitarian and development contexts. That said, smaller organisations working on niche issues and sectors have also been significant contributors to social change, punching way above their weight. Hence, if you are thinking of making the move to a smaller organisation, do consider it very seriously and positively !

 

A Reset for the New Year

 

Getting back to the momentum of things at work can be a bit challenging after a break, which is why many of us find it hard to get into the rhythm of things at the start of a new year after a long (and in many cases, enjoyable) festive break. And the reason why leaders in particular find it hard is because their role is not just about managing tasks – it is about fostering the right culture within the organisation, it is about the vision, it is about leading the organisation in uncertain times. In the not-for-profit world where profit does not feature, setting the tone and direction to enthuse colleagues and get everyone behind delivering its mission is harder. One needs to crank up the system – in other words, one needs a reset.

I have looked around and tried to understand of how leaders do the reset as they walk into work when a new year starts. There is usually some form of communication to all staff. There are calls for optimism even when things are extremely challenging (remember Rishi Sunak’s 5-pledges New Year 2023 speech ?). There are calls for individual and collective action. At a more mundane level, there are plans being developed or reviewed, budgets being made or reforecast.

To me, from all that I have seen and learnt, three things stand out that are worth considering while working on the reset (which pretty much takes the first couple of weeks of January :

1.  Acknowledge : Every organisation and every team faces various challenges, some that are unique or distinctive to the respective contexts (e.g. change in leadership, relations between the board and executive, a restructuring imperative, funding) , and some that are more pervasive (cost of living, Covid recovery, a looming recession). Irrespective of the nature of the challenge, the first thing would be to acknowledge what the challenges are. Coming back after a break could mean that the urgency or the seriousness of the challenge could be perceived very differently. Make a realistic assessment of these challenges that are most relevant and identify the ones that need to be tackled in the short, medium and long term. Could this be an onerous exercise ? No, not necessarily so. Would it be overwhelming ? Yes, it could be – but think of how you managed similar challenges in the past. Draw inspiration and energy from them to build one’s confidence that these challenges can also be overcome.

2. Act : I am sure we are all familiar with the ever growing list of things since November that we may have put it to ‘In the New Year’ list. By mid-December, that list can be quite daunting, but then, sometimes, it does make sense not to begin something significant towards the end of the year when everyone is tired and is looking forward to a break. There is then a real risk that the momentum around these could be lost when we start all over afresh in the new year. Just as a carpenter would take time to sharpen his saw before he starts his work (as Stephen Covey mentions in one of his books), it would be important to set aside some time to think of all the actions needed to be taken to continue from where we left in the previous year and, very importantly, build back the momentum that aligns with the organisation’s priorities. As a leader, that also provides a useful frame of reference to the rest of the team or organisation.

3. Aspire : Being aspirational can be hugely energising when one starts in the new year. One has had a break, the activities are still just about catching speed, there is a general sense of ease (and even wellbeing) in the organisation. In a week or two, all that could change and one gets back into the thick of operational matters, often at a frenetic pace. This is the ideal time for leaders to think afresh and create a sense of aspiration, even in the face of pressing challenges, so that colleagues can get a sense of direction, think longer term and have the courage to aspire for being better and more impactful. Creating these aspirations can be quite visionary in many ways as it helps steer the energies and the enthusiasm of the organisation to longer term outcomes. A simple question (as one of my colleagues asked all of us) is – What excites you about the future ?

We keep hearing that we are in a complex and challenging world, which will get even more complex and challenging. Let us not be unnerved or overwhelmed by that. That is a given, a reality. What will mark leaders and separate them from the rest is their ability to work around these, create a sense of optimism and enable colleagues to realise their aspirations, connecting them to a broader purpose.

Here is to a successful and productive 2023 !

 

 

Developing Resilience as a Leader

 

As a leader, one always should expect the unexpected. In one of my previous roles, I remember mentioning this to the peer when I was asked how I felt after having been in the role for 3 years. I said, “I feel like I still need to have my seat belt fastened. Each time I think I can unfasten and take a walk around, there is unexpected turbulence in the air”. I am fairly sure that pretty much sums up the life of anyone in any leadership position in any organisation, and more so, when one is a CEO and the buck does stop at your (virtual) table. Even though you have the board to support you, ultimately, you also are accountable to them in how you manage such unexpected twists and turns.

Individuals and organisations do have a fair amount of inherent resilience. That is why they survive as individuals and ‘move up the ranks’ to use a very hierarchical term. Or that is why organisations last long. In the not-for-profits sector, it is very common for leaders and organisations to face  various challenges that include reputational challenges, financial issues, employee relations, difficult relationships with governments or regulators. And we all have our own mechanisms to handle these, with boards and advisory committees stepping in, risk management procedures, crisis communications etc. But nothing prepared us, individually or collectively, for the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic. No one knew what quite hit us in March 2020, no one knew (or still knows) how long it will last, no one knew (or knows) what its medium and long term impacts may be.

It is situations like these that test the mettle of the most determined and strong willed. On one hand, it is important to steer the ship calmly and limit the panic, while also looking out into the far seas and wondering what will happen next. With the pandemic, it also became far more personal. Everyone without exception was affected in some way. Everyone went through phases of panic and anxiety. This was particularly challenging for those in leadership roles, as in addition to managing one’s own and one’s families’ anxieties, one was also responsible to ensure that the mission of the organisation stays in focus, that colleagues’ wellbeing is ensured and that the organisation’s long term financial sustainability is ensured. A tough ask indeed.

I have been very privileged and fortunate to see some really inspiring and resilient leaders in action during this period of crisis, trying to make sense of the madness, staying calm and focussed and not taking their eye off the ball. It is also not uncommon that when a crisis the scale of the pandemic hits us, there are other crises or challenges that are simmering on the sidelines that could soon occupy centre stage, and so, one is handling multiple, sometimes interconnected and sometimes unrelated challenges at the same time, that tests every single nerve in your system. Some leaders have done a brilliant job of not just navigating through these challenges but also turning them around to build back their organisations. Some have barely survived, while some wilted. The one difference that I think made the difference between those who did brilliantly and those who didn’t is resilience.

So what did these leaders do to develop resilience and draw on their reserves ? In my view, these are the few things that made all the difference.

1.       Pause, reflect and respond : When a crisis hits, the normal reaction is to panic. With the benefit of hindsight, we do realise that it serves no purpose. It is time to pause, which is not about inaction, but about acknowledging that there are forces beyond one’s control, which then helps individuals to reflect on what the options are and then respond. In that moment when a crisis hits, it does feel like being in the eye of the storm, but it is important to stay on course and not be blown away. And while there are factors beyond one’s control, there are certainly other factors that could well be in one’s control or sphere of influence. That is what one needs to tap into in these moments.

2.       Reach out for support : Confident leaders are more open to reach out to others for support because they acknowledge their personal vulnerabilities and the fact that no one person has all the answers. This is the time when one’s board or other social and professional networks play a key role. As a leader when it does sometimes feel ‘lonely at the top’, it is these networks and support mechanisms that provide the essential safety net to bounce off ideas, share ones’ apprehensions in a safe space and nurture that sense of solidarity.

3.       Stay focussed on mission : Irrespective of the nature of the crisis, what really matters is the mission of the organisation. I have seen organisations change course mid-way and veering off course because they feel that something else is more important. That is not only unauthentic but is also something that could significantly weaken the organisation and demoralise staff. As a mission focussed organisation, the leader is constantly thinking of ensuring that the staff continue to be aligned to its mission, that the staff wellbeing is a priority and that the internal systems and processes are responsive enough to weather the storm.

4.       Think long term : A crisis does not last forever, even if arguably it fundamentally changes a number of things around us. Hence, though it is important to manage the crisis while it lasts, it is also important to think of how to build back the organisation out of the crisis, leverage the lessons learnt from the new experiences and make the organisation more resilient. Equally important is to take stock of what has changed in the external environment and ensure that the organisation is better positioned towards newer realities.

5.       Believe in oneself : Leaders having self doubt at times is always a positive as it checks one against complacency and the feeling of relative invincibility. That said, in times of crisis, it is more important to believe in one’s ability, commitment and integrity to lead the organisation out of the crisis, being collaborative and empowering, bringing along the board and the staff, and the external supporters, all of whom are key to not just how the organisation survives, but thrives as it emerges out of the crisis. Self care and personal well being are hugely important. The last thing an organisation needs is a leader who is a spent force.

As the saying goes, ‘Nothing lasts forever’. Not even a crisis. But it could fundamentally change things around you and your environment. The key is to continue to develop resilience in a very uncertain world, and position oneself to a time when the crisis has blown over so that the process of rebuilding the organisation can be effective and impactful.

Moving Jobs – Preparing to Leave (Part 2)

 

In my previous blog, I talked about some of the reasons why moving jobs can be hard. Once you make the decision to move, it is then important to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible and that it is a positive experience (never mind the tears at your farewell !). Here are a few thoughts :

·       A communications plan : Think of when to communicate, what to communicate and the sequence in which you communicate. All these are really important to get it right. This requires some time. There are some people with whom you need to have a conversation. That includes your line manager, the people you directly line manage and your immediate peers. But there could be others. Timing is of importance. You would ideally like most people to hear the news at around the same time, so starting to do so at the end of the week is certainly not a good idea. Think of what else is happening in the organisation (a major event, a board meeting) and try not to make an announcement at such moments. While there is nothing like an ideal time, think of what would be most appropriate. Once you have spoken to the people you need to speak to, follow it up with an email or a team announcement to others in the organisation. Think of all others you need to inform – your board, your supporters, your partner organisations, your networks. The more senior you are in the organisation, the more thought you need to give, because then, it is not just about you, but about the organisation, its reputation and the relationships you value. You owe it to the organisation and its supporters to communicate well and in a timely manner. It also demonstrates respects for all those around you, within and outside the organisation.

·       Be clear about why you are leaving : I knew someone who was quite senior and was leaving a role after just 2 years. Everyone was surprised as no one saw that coming. When I asked him, over a drink, why he was leaving, he immediately pulled out a piece of paper from his bag and read out the 5 reasons why he is leaving. That was interesting and I had never seen anyone do that. His reasoning was that he wanted a clear and consistent narrative of why he was leaving. In other words, he was owning the narrative, and to stop other stories floating around. And that is very important, so that everyone hears the same answers to your question – Why are you leaving ?

·       Leave things as clean and clear as you can, tie up the loose ends : This is often hard because there is limited time to do so. The more senior you are in the organisation, the more are the number of things you need to consider. Start with the ones that only you can clean, clear or close, but bring in others from your team, so that they are fully conscious on what the end outcomes may look like, had you been around. It is therefore important to ensure that handover notes are not a long list of ‘to-dos’, but a meaningful narrative of the intent behind and status of some key initiatives that you led on or were responsible for, but also share some insights on some key strategic issues that is critical for the organisation, e.g. on its strategy or culture or financial sustainability or external relationships.

·       Do not interfere in anything that is about ‘life after you’ : What happens in the organisation after you leave is none of your business. Colleagues can get quite peeved when the person leaving the organisation has some firm views on what should happen after one departs. I find that approach quite disrespectful and undermines the organisation. It is a sign of maturity to keep away and out of all discussions on your succession, unless of course, asked to contribute with any thoughts. But I would very much advise this – even if invited, do not participate in any processes in finding your successor. It can be very tempting as it gives a certain sense of importance, but again, in my view, it influences and undermines the process of what happens after you leave.

·       Do not turn back and look over your shoulder : Once you are out of the door, that is it. You are out. Again, it is very tempting to look back and find out what is happening. A healthy level of curiosity is understandable. A healthy distancing from what was your past life is the right thing. I have come across situations when the person who left the organisation tended to lurk in the background, keeping an eye on how their team / department was doing, trying to influence the recruitment process, perhaps for a sense of insecurity that the ‘legacy’ of the person may be in question once they move on. That does not help either the person who has moved on, or the organisation. So plainly and simply, just stay away. If the organisation does need your support, someone will indeed get in touch with you and ask you for advice or clarify a few things, which is perfectly fine. When thus approached, please give them some quality time, as that would be immensely valued.

A friend of mine once wrote a piece on her last 100 days in a role. It is quite normal for someone to focus on their first 100 days, but I hadn’t seen or heard someone being so intentional about the last 100 days. I am sure that would have immensely helped her and her organisation during the leadership transition. I tried to do it as I left my last job but just couldn’t focus on that. If that is something you are able to do, please try to !

Finally, a piece of advice that one of my former line managers gave me decades ago – ‘Do not burn bridges when you leave an organisation’. This can be difficult in certain situations when the reasons for a person leaving the organisation may not be particularly pleasant. But at a fundamental level, what he was trying to say was that during one’s time in an organisation, it is quite possible that there may have been some difficult conversations and challenging relationships. At the time of leaving, it is good to try to mend these, so that you don’t leave with or leave behind any hard feelings. Worth a try ?

(Concluded) 

Moving Jobs - Preparing to Leave (Part 1)

 

Moving jobs, like moving homes, is not easy. It comes at a price, a personal price, even if the rewards on the other side look enticing. Which is why some people find leaving a job so heart wrenching, especially if it has been a very productive, stimulating and enjoyable time. You just need to look at a random selection of farewell speeches or messages to get a sense of how difficult people find it. Even when the decision to leave a job is a rational one, the actual act of moving makes it quite emotional.

There are a few reasons why this may be the case (of course, discounting the ones where people leave joyfully if they have had a rough time !) and why people find even the thought of moving jobs so stressful or challenging :

·       Investing in a role : This is particularly true the more senior you get in the organisation and if the role is an ‘organisational leadership’ role. One is vested in its strategy, its mission, its future plans. Some of these have been hard won battles. Some of the fruits of one’s hard labour have not yet begun to show. Will I lose out if I move out ? Will someone else claim the credit for all the hard work I did ? Valid questions – but remember, in most cases, you also built your work on the foundations someone else laid for you, and also you did bask in the warmth of the glory that someone else (your predecessor) worked hard for.

·       Pangs of guilt : How many times have we come across people who think that the organisation will collapse if they move on, and making that the reason why they stay on ? The pangs of guilt could be for other reasons too, for instance – “I recruited this team and each one of my team members were handpicked by me. They will be at a loss when I move on. Who will steer them ? They joined because of me”. Hang on – the people you recruited are mature professionals (at least, they were all adults). Surely, they can navigate the world without you. You don’t need to be protective about them. If you gave them the opportunity, great, let them build on it and forge ahead. You are not indispensable, either to them or to the organisation

·       The urge to learn and do more : In a way, this is great. What is wrong with wanting to do more or learn more ? Nothing. But do check those thoughts and ask yourself the tough question – is it because of a sense of diffidence or insecurity that comes in the way of you considering a move ? Often, I have seen that this is the reason why people tend to stay or overstay in organisations, being in the same role for fairly long periods of time. Again, nothing wrong with that either, as long as you are confident that you are growing and learning, and the organisation continues to benefit from you being around. I have often told myself, “Do not be part of the furniture. If you want to move, move when the going is good and always leave on a high”.

(To be concluded)

Reflections of a First Time CEO

 

Becoming a first time CEO at the age of 52 in the charity sector would be considered as arriving quite late to the party, especially when most would get to that role in their ‘40s or some even in their ‘30s. That said, I was delighted and felt quite privileged to have been appointed as the CEO by the board of ActionAid UK, led by the Chair, Margaret Casely-Hayford, in August 2015 – firstly because it was a very reputed organisation in international development, and secondly because I did consider myself as an ‘outsider’, having arrived in the UK after having lived all my life in India till early 2005, and without the benefit of an international education or vast professional networks here in the UK.

I was also fortunate that while I was in my previous role with WaterAid UK, I had the opportunity of attending a course at the CASS Centre for Charity Effectiveness called the Aspiring CEO course, thanks to my then CEO, Barbara Frost, which was also about making one think of whether one really wanted to be CEO. A few participants from my cohort came to the conclusion that the CEO role was not for them, but many others pursued their ambition and eventually many have become CEOs.

Having stepped down after over 5 years in the role in December 2020, I thought of looking back at my experience, reflecting on what I had learnt, and sharing that with those who, like me, are ‘outsiders’ and hence do not have a firm social or professional foundations in the UK – but also those who are considering their first ever CEO role. So this is what I have come up with.

1.    Nothing quite prepares you for the role – you have to live it : As I mentioned, I did the course, I spoke to a small number of CEOs I knew, I read a couple of books. I also had coaching support, both formal and informal. All that was incredibly helpful and I would certainly recommend these and more. But you need to get into the role to feel it and navigate through all the uncertainties and complexities. I became a CEO in the year when there were huge controversies around fundraising and governance practices of charities. That was soon followed by Brexit, rapidly declining public trust in charities, safeguarding concerns, merger of DFID with FCO to create the new government department, FCDO, and of course, the massive Covid pandemic. Each one of these had a bruising impact on any international organisation, and for each one of these, one had to find one’s own way.

2.    Do not underestimate the importance of governance : CEOs may have a tendency to focus more on the executive or operational side of things, especially in terms of working with their senior managers and the wider staff body. I learnt soon enough that it was of crucial importance to develop a strong understanding of the board, the role of individual trustees, their hopes, aspirations and concerns, and ensure that the senior management and the board of trustees have a strong relationship of trust, respect and accountability. And that doesn’t happen easily, especially when the external challenges can be quite draining and the expectations of the board members varied. But it is equally, therefore, more important for the CEO to prioritise and invest time in working with the board, and especially the Chair of the board.

3.    Balancing internal and external engagements is not easy : There always has to be a compromise before one gets to a sweet spot, if ever there is one. Internally, the buck eventually stops with the CEO and hence, there is no excuse for not focussing on the internal issues. Yet, the organisation depends quite a lot on the CEO’s external engagement in building profile, developing networks and bringing in external intelligence. One needs to manage what works best given individual preferences and work styles, and that requires robust time management and quite often, long hours.

4.    Role modelling is very important – even if it does not resolve everything : This needs to start from a place of self awareness and identity, so that the behaviours one lives and breathes demonstrates authenticity and integrity. It does not pay to try and fit into your predecessor’s shoes if it does not come to you naturally. Comparisons will often be made – take it in as an input or information. See if there is something really important that you can adopt or adapt. But be sure to model the behaviours that align with the organisation’s values and your personal ones as well. It also doesn’t mean that by role modelling alone, you can change behaviours you wish to change. Keep at it but also find other ways to communicate with perseverance.

5.    Recognise individuals and their contributions – it matters : I have been surprised as how many people thought that CEOs are most likely to be quite distant and not in touch with colleagues other than the senior managers. Equally, it is surprising how motivating it is when individuals are recognised for who they are and their contributions appreciated. Make time to know as many people as you can. It is not just important for them, it is important for you as a  CEO to know your colleagues much better than just in meeting rooms.

6.    Trust your colleagues – you don’t need to have all the answers : Perhaps this is the most liberating of all thoughts, if one acknowledges and accepts that the CEO does not and will not have all the answers. And so, learn to step back with humility and let someone else take the space who knows better than you on a matter of their functional specialism. Use that opportunity to learn more and better, ask the right questions, challenge perspectives, but let them lead if that is the area of their expertise. That is always best for the organisation.

7.    Banish the thoughts of the ‘imposter syndrome’ : It took me 2 years and 12 roles that I applied for before I landed my first CEO role. It can be very demotivating and make you think that being an ‘outsider’ means you will never make it, or worse, that you are simply not good enough, because you do not fit into the mould of the majority of CEOs in the sector. When you get the role, you may find that there was an internal candidate who had applied for the role and was quite good too. These may trigger the ‘imposter syndrome’ in you. Be confident in your own style, your approach and what you can contribute.

So once you have made up your mind to be a CEO, go for it by all means, but go for it with your eyes and ears open, be fully prepared for all the curved balls directed at you or coming your way, have your own reserves of resilience, but most importantly, believe in yourself and the mission of the organisation. And trust me, it doesn’t matter if you do not have a Masters or a PhD from a university of international repute. It doesn’t matter if you do not have a vast professional network. All that matters is you ! Once you get into the role, build a professional support network around you to learn from and share ideas. Keep looking for ways in which you can sharpen  your skills. Seek feedback from those  you work with. Very importantly, devote time to reflect on your journey from time to time.