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Testimonial by Veerle (Belfius)
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From Expert to Leader
“I was used to taking actions into my own hands, and being directive towards my stakeholders and co-workers as a Project Manager. But this approach was not productive anymore, once I became a Leader.”
Mentoring results
- Giving more freedom and responsibilities to my teammembers. Less Micro-managing.
- More reflective of own actions and reactions in different situations. More empathic towards my team.
- Gained status of a sounding board for my team, and delegating tasks better and more efficient.
- Became better at giving (and receiving) transparant feedback and handling difficult conversations better.
Bio
- Veerle J
- Head of Projects & Business Program – Belfius
- Individual mentoring
- Mentor: Peter Rooseleers
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Three challenges
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“During my first weeks after my promotion, I noticed that being a manager/leader is completely different from my role before. So I wanted to find out how I could speed up my learning curve. When I asked my own manager, he suggested Ambits, due to his own experience with Ambits.
Together with my manager, peers and Ambits, we identified three core challenges:
- How do I evolve from an expert into a leader?
- How do I balance strategical responsibilities with weekly team management?
- What specific steps should I take to become a better leader?"
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Mentor Peter: Industry Expertise, High Authenticity & Strong Rapport
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"Ambits suggested three possible mentors, and I immediately felt a connection with Peter during our 'speed-date'. He had a unique profile that resonated with me: Background in financial industry, Hands-on mindset, and straight-forward way of communicating.
“I had a one-hour face-to-face meeting with Peter every couple of weeks, which was always focused on real-live experiences that I encounter every week. His experience in Project Management was invaluable. He also taught me how to cope with my tendency to take over and micromanage. In my role as manager, he pointed out the importance of delegating and putting every team member in his/her 'Power'.
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From the start, Peter put a mirror infront of myself and my uncousious thinking patterns.
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Delegating
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“I think I can say that I’ve grown as a leader, and that’s also the feedback I get from my team. When I started as a leader, I didn't know how to balance all my daily/weekly responsibilities with being a team leader. So I started taking control of everything, from my expert role as a project manager. Ambits highlighted that being a good expert and begin a good leader are two different things. Interacting with team members and giving them freedom to do their job effectively is crucial. That’s why I’m so grateful that Ambits and Peter showed me how to evolve as a leader from a directive expert manager to an inclusive coaching leader.”
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Are you considering working with a mentor? Here’s Veerle's 2 cents’ worth:
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- Start with looking in the mirror.
- Ask your peers how they view you as a Leader.
- Find a mentor who challenges you, someone who can push you further.
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