52. ANNA GLYNN

Informal Leadership: The Foundation Anna's leadership journey began in university, where she often found herself nominated to lead committees and social initiatives. * Seek Opportunities: Look for informal leadership roles in your community or workplace. These roles can provide valuable experience and help you develop essential leadership skills. * Focus on Impact: Concentrate on the positive impact you can have on others, regardless of your title. Leadership is about influence, not authority. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome When Anna was offered her first formal management position, she experienced feelings of imposter syndrome. * Seek Mentorship: Find mentors who can provide guidance and support. Their experience can help you navigate the challenges of leadership. * Continuous Learning: Invest in management courses and personal development to build your confidence and skills. Recognising and Building on Strengths Anna discusses her shift from traditional leadership approaches to a strengths-based model. * Identify Strengths: Use tools like StrengthsFinder or CliftonStrengths to identify the strengths of your team members. * Align Roles with Strengths: Restructure roles to align with individual strengths, enhancing performance and job satisfaction. Navigating Pushback and Resistance Implementing new strategies often comes with pushback, particularly from those accustomed to traditional methods. * Use Evidence: Present research and case studies that support the benefits of a strengths-based approach. * Emotional Resonance: Highlight the positive impact of focusing on strengths, as people are more motivated when their strengths are acknowledged. Embracing Continuous Learning and Resilience Learning from Challenges Anna reflects on the challenges she faced during her leadership journey, including moments of doubt and frustration. * Seek Support: Identify and connect with your "green apples" for encouragement and validation. * View Failures as Opportunities: Maintain an optimistic outlook and view failures as opportunities for learning and growth. Educational Background and Positive Psychology Anna's educational background, including her coaching and management courses, has significantly shaped her leadership philosophy. Her introduction to positive psychology provided her with practical strategies to implement within her team. * Invest in Education: Pursue courses and certifications in positive psychology and leadership to deepen your understanding and application of these concepts. * Encourage Autonomy: Foster a sense of choice and autonomy within your team, allowing them to test various strategies and find what works best. Launching a Leadership Practice During a Crisis Anna launched her practice coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. * Be Adaptable: Embrace change and be willing to adapt your strategies to meet new challenges. * Support Well-Being: Prioritise employee well-being, especially during times of crisis, to maintain a motivated and engaged workforce. Writing "Strong" and Future Projects Creating a Leadership Playbook Anna's book, "Strong," emerged from her desire to share practical strategies for leaders. * Share Your Knowledge: Consider writing a book or creating content to share your leadership insights and strategies with a broader audience. * Plan for the Future: Develop a vision for future projects that can continue to provide value and support to leaders. Advice for Aspiring Leaders Anna encourages listeners to seek out their champions—individuals who believe in a better way of leading and creating thriving workplaces. * Build a Community: Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can support and inspire you on your leadership journey. * Prioritise Well-Being: Focus on creating an environment where your team can thrive, leading to better outcomes for the organisation.