My takeaways from The Xec. leadership scheme

By Malini Parkash, Senior Consultant

I was chosen to be a part of the Xec leadership scheme, developed by BME PR Pros, just before the Summer last year. Supported by Google UK, and delivered in partnership with PRovoke Media and the CIPR, the leadership scheme is the first for UK-based Black, Asian, Mixed Race and Ethnic Minority (BME) PR and comms pros and aims to create the next generation of BME leaders and to increase boardroom diversity client and agency-side.

For me, being a part of the Xec was 10 months of transformative learning and rapid self-development. I was daunted at the beginning of the course and unsure if I could be a leader, as I explored in my blog post here. But my perception and experience of leadership drastically changed as I went through the programme. I now know that leadership takes on many different shapes and styles – there is no one way to be a leader.

During the scheme, we learned from industry leaders and subject matter experts on topics including Diversity Equality & Inclusion, data, new business, finance, HR, ESG (at Blurred, of course!) and more. We also got to hear from leaders on how they advanced their careers through “My Career” talks. These are the takeaways that I took away and that I hope will also inspire you:  

1.    Don’t say no if you don’t have to

Always stay open to opportunities and take them – even when you feel uncomfortable. Feel the fear and do it anyway is the motto here! Why? Because comfort is the enemy of growth. I experienced this recently when Blurred put me forward for the PR Week Young Gamechanger Award which I was subsequently shortlisted for. My initial reaction was discomfort, mixed with fear of failure, but Blurred CEO, Nik Govier, gave me another great piece of advice which I will also share here: “Channel your inner Beyoncé!”

This can also apply if you are looking for a promotion, new job, or new title at work. One leader told us: “Ready or not, you can do any job”, and if you question if you have the skills, “Not your decision, go for it!”

2.    Get out of your own way

In order to reach your full potential, don’t let self-limiting beliefs get stop you. Be your own biggest supporter. This definitely doesn’t mean you have to be perfect and smash everything in front of you. Fail is inevitable and the key is to learn quickly and take ownership of your mistakes. A key part of my journey on the Xec was working with my mentor to identify and move past my own self-limiting beliefs. I found that awareness and acceptance are so important. If you are aware of how you feel about yourself, you can start to change it and if you accept who you are, you can play to your strengths.

3.    You can lead from behind

You don’t always need to be front and centre to be a good leader. You can empower and enable others, and lead “quietly”, if that better suits your personality. I took this learning from our Leadership Training Day where we identified our personality traits using 16Personalities and Values in Action Inventory of Strengths. I would really recommend doing these tests for yourself as a way to unlock a better understanding of your leadership style by understanding your character and values.

4.    Be authentic

Don’t hide where you’re from. By understanding your values and character but also your lived experiences, you can also start to lead authentically. From personal experience, authentic leaders are the most impactful. When you can use your experiences to learn and then share those learnings and empathise with others, you can be a stronger leader.

5.    Make it count

By harnessing your life experiences, you can better advocate for others. At the heart of the creation of the BME PR Pros platform is the phrase “Create your own platform”. This may not mean creating a whole new initiative, but it is about using your voice for good and to positively impact those around you. If you get an opportunity to share your voice, use it.

As well as my top takeaways, I would urge you to stay curious about those around you as a way to develop your voice and career journey. Read about others’ experiences. Surround yourself with good people. Grow your network. This is not just about building connections but expanding your horizons and your understanding of others as a way to better understand yourself and reach your potential.