Jan Young on What It Takes To Be A Customer Success Leader
Apr 27, 2023
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Jan Young, a Customer Success Consultant with over 13 years of experience, shares her insights on becoming a great Customer Success leader. She discusses the power of storytelling and how it can bridge customer needs with business offerings. Jan emphasizes the importance of creating a pragmatic customer journey and developing a strategic roadmap for Customer Success organizations. Her blend of agile methodologies and emotional intelligence offers a fresh approach to leadership, inspiring listeners to enhance their everyday practices in this evolving field.
Effective customer success leadership requires proactive problem-solving and collaboration to address underlying customer issues and improve workflows.
Storytelling is an essential skill for customer success managers, enabling them to communicate customer needs and influence decision-making across diverse stakeholders.
Deep dives
Jan Young's Journey to Customer Success Leadership
Jan Young's career path highlights her transition from aspiring playwright to a prominent figure in customer success. Initially working in project management while exploring creative pursuits, she found her passion in understanding how technology could drive profitability. This led her to roles in sales and account management, where she focused on building customer relationships prior to the formal establishment of customer success roles. Her strategic approach to being at the intersection of customer needs and business goals propelled her into executive positions and ultimately into consulting, where she now helps others navigate similar paths.
The Importance of Proactive Leadership
Effective leadership in customer success involves going beyond assigned tasks to identify what truly needs to be done within an organization. Jan emphasizes that individuals must think proactively about how they can contribute to solving underlying issues, rather than waiting for permission. She highlights the significance of joining industry committees or initiatives to collaboratively address customer pain points and improve workflows. By demonstrating leadership before attaining formal authority, individuals can position themselves for executive roles and make impactful contributions.
Mastering Storytelling for Customer Success
Storytelling emerges as a crucial skill for customer success managers to effectively communicate customer needs and advocate for solutions within their organizations. Jan discusses the necessity of tailoring messaging to different audiences, emphasizing that each stakeholder has unique pain points and interests. Leaders benefit from understanding emotional and logical aspects of storytelling, which can significantly influence decision-making processes. By sharing relevant data and successful examples, CSMs can inspire action and foster a collaborative environment where customer challenges are addressed.
Integrating Technology in Customer Success
Jan challenges the conventional belief that customer success should solely rely on human interaction, advocating for the use of technology to enhance efficiency and service delivery. She points out that leaders must embrace digital tools to optimize customer journeys while ensuring that personal touchpoints are maintained when necessary. By developing self-service options and leveraging AI, organizations can better meet customer needs while minimizing the burden on their teams. Embracing emerging technologies early on equips companies to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing landscape, positioning them favorably against competitors.
Jan Young is a Customer Success Consultant at The Success League and an advisor to some of the most beloved CS brands and communities like Catalyst, Gain Grow Retain and CS Insider.
A leader in Customer Success for over 13 years, Jan is a great person to help us answer the question "What does it take to be a great Customer Success Leader?". By blending the purpose of CS leadership with agile methodologies, business acumen and emotional intelligence, she brings a powerful and fresh perspective to the discussion of the role of a CS leader.
We covered a multitude of topics: the power of storytelling, why you should have a pragmatic customer journey and the importance of creating a roadmap for your CS organisation.
You will leave this session inspired to approach your every day as a CS leader differently.
Music: Workday by Scott Dugdale
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