In this episode of The Human Advantage podcast series, we dive into the leadership journey of Rachael Knight, Senior Payroll Manager at the iconic fashion house Chanel. Renan dos Santos, CrossKnowledge host, engages in a compelling conversation with Rachael. They explore her path to becoming an effective leader for her team. Together, they reflect on the valuable lessons she has learned along the way. Her journey was filled with challenges, triumphs, and a steadfast commitment to fostering a more human workplace.
Rachel’s story is one of resilience, growth, and leadership. From leading her team through a major payroll system implementation to navigating the complexities of the role during a global pandemic, she shares her own experience about manager empowerment for effective leadership. Get ready for an eye-opening exploration into Rachael Knight’s experiences, where we decode the essential elements that empower managers and drive effective team leadership.
4 key insights from Rachael Knight:
Building Resilience Through Leadership Challenges
Rachael’s journey is characterized by a significant leap of faith into a leadership role. She underscores the importance of resilience, courage, and perseverance when stepping into a managerial role. She leaned on these skills particularly when tasked with delivering her first-ever payroll system implementation project.
Organizational Design Blueprint
Katharina advises leaders to challenge the norm by re-evaluating meetings and asking critical questions before scheduling. This helps reduce unnecessary stress. She also emphasizes the importance of setting expectations for mentoring and creating less prescriptive job descriptions. By tailoring job roles to individual needs and cultural fit, organizations can promote a healthier work environment.
Recognizing and Rewarding Achievements
Using the example of nominating a team member for an award, Rachael illustrates how acknowledgment can boost confidence and motivation, fostering a positive environment for personal and professional development.
Empowering Through Positive Role Modeling
Rachael advocates that leaders can empower their teams through positive role modeling. She emphasizes the transformative impact of self-belief, resilience, constructive feedback, and a growth mindset in establishing a foundation for team success.
Human-Centric Leadership Development
Rachael suggests that leadership programs should focus not only on formalities and operations but also on developing a leader’s mindset around essential human qualities.
Resources
- Read our blog article: The significant transformation of middle managers in global organizations
- Equip your managers with the necessary skills to collaborate effectively, lead with empathy, and influence others in an uncertain business landscape. Discover Lead from the Middle, our facilitated upskilling program.
Show notes
(00:01) Embarking on The Human Advantage journey
(01:27) Meet Rachael Knight’s, Senior Payroll Manager at Chanel
(01:49) Rachael’s memorable leadership experience: payroll system implementation
(06:05) Qualities of a successful manager in empowering teams
(09:00) Fostering continuous learning and growth among team members
(10:27) Recognizing and rewarding achievements
(12:00) Empowering team members to be their best selves at work
(14:49) Rachael’s approach to personal learning and development
(19:25) Importance of a Payroll Management Degree in Rachel’s career
(24:06) Bringing the Human Aspect to Manager Training
(27:18) Conclusion of the podcast
Rachael Knight has been in the payroll industry for 10+ years starting out with no experience or qualifications and learning the ropes of the NHS payroll! Payroll quickly became her passion. She realized it was something she was good at and could obtain a career through. Her vision has always been striving to make a difference in the industry, showing individuals that Payroll cares about their livelihoods and takes pride in delivering accuracy. Throughout her career she has become more and more ambitious – her journey has been challenging and humbling at the same time. To be 34 years of age and experienced opportunities that she has been given through Payroll is truly something. Her biggest goal, which she hopes becomes her greatest achievement, would be to inspire her team and others around her to be the best that they can be and help them achieve all their wants and dreams along the way.
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Renan dos Santos boasts a decade of experience in the exciting world of L&D. He’s been a key player at CrossKnowledge, proudly wearing many hats as a marketer. Renan’s journey has taken him through the vibrant realms of two different countries, where he’s contributed to shaping CrossKnowledge’s narrative in the dynamic landscape of upskilling. He’s passionate about education and a firm believer in the transformative power of learning.
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The Human Advantage: Insights from Business Leaders series is dedicated to exploring the pivotal role of humans in driving organizational success. Each episode features candid conversations with prominent business leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering a thriving workplace environment.