| Without a doubt, making the step from being a | | | | role but you also see, in a real life environment, how |
| manager to being a leader is one of the biggest | | | | they respond and deal with the never ending |
| challenges that you will face. While there is no sure-fire | | | | challenges. |
| way of getting it right, there are some things that you | | | | Take on the role in an acting up capacity |
| can do to get yourself prepared. | | | | When I was a Head of Management of Accounts, I |
| Know your start point | | | | was asked to act up to the role of Deputy Finance |
| Before you can do anything to move forward, you | | | | Director. It provided the opportunity to cut my teeth in |
| need to be clear on what your start point is. Taking | | | | the role and get some great experience. |
| some form of assessment or 360º feedback | | | | Go on a secondment |
| can be a really effective way of getting a stake in the | | | | Maybe you are looking for experience in a particular |
| ground in where you are right now, really quickly. | | | | area. Taking a secondment for a 6 month period could |
| Shadow people who are already there | | | | just be the fastest way of filling that experience gap |
| I am astounded just how few people reach out and | | | | while giving a future employer concrete evidence of |
| ask a senior person if they can shadow them for the | | | | achievement. |
| day. Not only do you get some great insights into their | | | | |