Making the Leap From Subject Matter Expert to Strategic Leader

Presented at ISE EXPO in Dallas, Texas, on August 21, 2024

As network professionals, we know how to put our hands on the keyboard and work through the configuration and physical and virtual access issues. As we grow in our careers, however, we are increasingly asked to sit at the epicenter of decision-making, helping our business partners make critical network decisions in the context of our organization’s strategic objectives.

These are exciting opportunities, but they require us to work and define our value in very different ways. This shift from subject matter expert to strategic leader is about more than being assigned direct reports. It’s about rethinking the way you create value for the organization.

Delve into three leadership shifts: (1) from communicating tasks to communicating context and vision; (2) from concentrating decision rights to delegating decision rights; and (3) from leading through authority to leading through influence. Participants will leave this session with a clear understanding of what it means to make the leap to leadership as well as a tactical toolkit for articulating their value within the organization and positioning themselves as strategic leaders.

Through a combination of content presentation and case study review, participants will come away with a firm understanding of the following:

1. The employee engagement implications of communicating tasks versus communicating vision.
2. The impact of concentrating versus delegating decision rights on your impact in the organization.
3. The difference between leading through authority and leading through influence.

Presenters

Sue Ralston – Endeavor Business Media (Session Chair)
Alyssa Cox – Blue Swift Consulting