Hunters and Unicorns How to Thrive in FIRST-LINE Leadership w/ Zahir Abdelouhab
Dec 11, 2024
Zahir Abdelouhab, SVP EMEA at Navan, shares his insights on first-line leadership in software sales. He discusses the immense challenges of transitioning from a high-performing salesperson to a people-centric leader. Zahir emphasizes embracing failure as a critical component for growth and building high-performing teams. He also highlights the importance of choosing the right company for career development and developing a unique leadership style that prioritizes team success over individual accolades.
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Why First-Line Leadership Is Hard
- First-line leadership is hard because managers are promoted for individual performance, not management skills.
- They're expected to multiply their individual results, leading to a focus on revenue, not people.
Initial Struggles in Leadership
- Zahir initially struggled with managing a team, as he expected everyone to work like him.
- He focused on revenue, neglecting people development, and felt lost in his new role.
Shifting Focus to People
- Transition from being a super-salesperson to focusing on people development.
- Slow down, prioritize teaching your team, and the results will follow naturally.