From Introverted Engineer to Introverted Leader, with some Extrovert Assistance along the Way
It can be an inevitability that people from technical backgrounds will get promoted into management or leadership roles, and can often be ill-equipped to deal with this change. Moving away from the engineering detail myself and realising that through others is something I struggled with initially, but learnt and embraced, and coaching has been incredibly helpful to me in managing this process. I am now an EMCC Accredited Coach and Mentor, and work with other next-level managers and aspiring leaders from STEM backgrounds to support them in this area. But, it has been a journey that may resonate with many.
Adapting a strategy to people’s strengths, or not?
I first wrote a version of this in late-2023, when the mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was somewhat more positive than it is right now. And now Ruben Amorim has Manchester United following a similar philosophy to Ange Postecoglou, with similar mixed results. So whilst this blog is quite likely to date extremely badly, I think the approach is interesting, whether it be in sport or business.
“Just start writing a Blog…”
Over recent months, as I have been investigating marketing plans for Nick Henry Consulting moving forwards, a common recommendation has arisen from the various marketing experts that I’ve spoken to - starting writing a “thought leadership” blog.
The thought of this was mildly terrifying on initial contemplation. Embarking on starting to write an article, or a blog as it is termed these days, seems like a nice idea but something out of my reach. But given my genetics, with my father (left in the photo - Monaco pitlane, 1975) being a journalist and author of over 30 books on the subject of motor racing, I must have some natural aptitude for this vocation.