“You are your own brand”

You don’t have to lead your own team to be an effective manager, as the experience of Harjinder Hayer CMgr FCMI shows. For Harjinder, our Chartered Manager of the Week, it’s about managing processes rather than people. His career in IT has included spells in the utilities sector, including the water industry, and since 2017 he has worked in IT asset management at Birmingham City Council, where he oversees software licensing. 

“I aim to play a part in driving the organisation forward. It’s about providing fresh ideas to solve department problems, streamlining processes so that people can work more efficiently and saving the organisation money.” 

Cost-cutting is important for local authorities at the moment, he explains. It means dealing with different stakeholders and internal departments every day, alongside liaising with senior management. “It requires varied skills, such as listening and influencing.” 

Professional recognition

Harjinder first became involved with CMI because, he says, “I didn’t have the skill set I believed I needed.” 

After joining in 2012, he began to work his way through a range of diplomas, gaining a Level 5 in Management and Leadership, followed by a Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice and a Level 7 in Professional Consulting. He also became a Chartered Manager. 

• “Good care starts with good leadership”

“Chartered Manager status has enhanced my leadership, strategic thinking and decision-making skills, enabling me to drive efficiency and continuous improvement in the council,” he says.

CMI broadens your network and gives you the diagnostic tools to monitor your skill set and your development, Harjinder says. You take feedback on board, self-reflect and then act on it. YouTube videos, blogs, articles and tools help with assessing what you are missing and working out how to move forward. 

“The professional recognition has boosted my credibility and confidence, allowing me to influence stakeholders and drive positive business outcomes,” he says.

If you’re not improving and developing all the time, your brand is going backwards

One model he has found particularly useful is the Johari Window, an analysis tool that helps users better understand themselves and their relationship with others. “It really helps you identify your blind spots by understanding how others see you,” says Harjinder. 

He once received feedback that he didn’t believe in himself enough. “My experience with CMI is the thing that has made the most impact in addressing that imposter syndrome and building my confidence in myself and my role.” 

• “I want to give back to the community and inspire the next generation”

Mentoring and coaching are areas that have long interested him, and he’s now using his skills to support others. Harjinder is currently undertaking a coaching apprenticeship with his employer and has taken part in a reciprocal mentoring scheme.