People often ask me what leadership advice I would give to someone earlier in their career.
The truth is, I don't have a perfect playbook.
Like most leaders, I've learned far more from mistakes than successes. Over the years, however, there are a handful of principles that I find myself returning to repeatedly. They help me make decisions, lead teams, manage pressure and, hopefully, become a little better each year.
Pay attention to the detail, but never lose sight of the bigger picture
As a CFO, detail matters.
The numbers matter. The assumptions matter. The wording matters. Small details can have big consequences.
But I've learned that spending all your time in the details can sometimes obscure the most important question: ‘What’s the message, decision or outcome we're trying to achieve?’
When reviewing a piece of work, I often challenge myself to zoom in and zoom out. Dive into the detail to understand the facts, then step back and ask whether the overall story is clear.
The best leaders can do both.
Spend your time where you add unique value
One of the most important lessons I've learned is that not all work creates equal value.
Early in our careers, we often feel we need to be involved in everything. As leaders, that's neither scalable nor effective.
I've become increasingly disciplined about asking myself a simple question: ‘Am I the only person who can do this?’
If the answer is no, then my role is often to empower someone else, not to take the work on myself.
The highest-impact leaders focus their time on the decisions, relationships and challenges where their unique experience can make the greatest difference.
Ask before you tell
One of the simplest leadership techniques I use is also one of the most effective.
When we want to give feedback, our instinct is often to say: ‘I'd like to give you some feedback.’
The problem is that many people immediately become defensive.
Instead, I often start by asking: ‘What feedback do you have for me?’
The conversation changes instantly. People become more open, more reflective and more engaged. And almost without fail, they’ll ask for feedback in return.
What could have been a one-way conversation becomes genuine dialogue.
Let people own the timeline
Many leaders set deadlines. I've found it can be even more effective to ask a different question: ‘When do you think this can be completed?’
People are often more ambitious than we expect. Frequently, they'll suggest a timeline that is earlier than the one I had in mind.
More importantly, they've created the commitment themselves.
Ownership is a powerful motivator. People are far more likely to deliver against timelines they have helped create than timelines that have simply been imposed upon them.
Keep perspective
Leadership can be stressful. There will always be challenges, setbacks, difficult decisions and moments when the path forward isn't obvious.
During those moments, I remind myself of something simple: ‘We're not brain surgeons.’
The work we do matters, and the decisions we make matter. But almost every problem has a solution if we approach it calmly, objectively and thoughtfully.
Perspective doesn't diminish the importance of the work. It helps us perform better under pressure.
Don't make it personal
Every leader makes mistakes. I've certainly made my share.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is not to spend too much time dwelling on them.
If you've made a mistake, acknowledge it. Fix it. Learn from it. Move forward.
The energy spent beating yourself up is rarely productive.
We're all human. We all get things wrong. What matters is how quickly we're willing to learn and adapt.
Enjoy the journey
Perhaps the most important lesson of all is to enjoy what you do.
Leadership is demanding. Building teams is hard. Growing businesses is challenging.
But it should also be energising.
The leaders I admire most bring curiosity, optimism and enjoyment to their work. They genuinely care about what they're building and the people they're building it with.
I've found that when you enjoy what you do, you tend to do it better. And when people enjoy working with you, great things usually follow.
Leadership isn't about having all the answers.
It's about staying curious, continuing to learn and helping others succeed along the way.
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