Untapped potential
It’s easy to sell yourself short. Whether it’s due to imposter syndrome, a lack of self-belief, or just not having the knowledge of what opportunities are out there.
Sandeep Farar CMgr had a successful career as a senior manager, but her lack of college and university education stopped her progressing further to executive-level leadership. Fortunately, the leadership team at engineering firm Arup saw her potential and helped her to unleash it.
She joined the team in 2018 on a 12-month contract and before long her managers helped her secure a permanent job as a business services partner, increased her responsibility and encouraged her to become a Chartered Manager (CMgr) through CMI.
“Although I’ve learned a lot throughout my career and have various qualifications through the different industries I worked in, I left school at 16 with O-levels, didn’t go to college and didn’t go to university,” Sandeep says.
“Coming into this role was my first step into leadership, and that’s what I need my Chartership for.
Anybody can call themselves a manager - lots of people step into management by accident merely for progression or after a length of time in a business. But being a Chartered Manager means you are a specialist in that area, and it shows you’ve got all the skills to do the job to the best of your ability. It makes you stand out.
From a manager to a leader
As part of the process of becoming a Chartered Manager (CMgr), Sandeep had to demonstrate leadership and strategy skills as well as financial and risk management, marketing and people management skills.
Four years on from achieving her Chartered Manager status, she can see how it’s benefitted not only herself but also her team. “My leadership style over time has definitely stepped out of managing into leading, allowing people to learn from their mistakes and develop their own ideas,” she says.
It’s enabled me to be more enthusiastic in people’s abilities to self-learn, rather than dictate to them. I think it’s made me a much more compassionate person, more caring and hopefully enjoyable to work with.
A catalyst for success
Transforming from a manager to a leader has seen Sandeep excel in her career and win awards for her management skills. She now pays the support she received forward by mentoring others in her team, something she takes immense pride in.
She’s been shortlisted for the CMI Chartered Manager of the Year 2024 award and won Manager of the Year at the Office Management Awards 2024.
Reflecting on what she’s learnt in her journey of becoming Chartered, Sandeep says: “The difference between managing and leading is that managing is very much being part of it - showing, doing. Leading is like giving somebody a set of tools, giving them the enthusiasm, the motivation. It’s about letting them take control and being there to listen and guide them when they need it.”
In my mind, a great leader is someone who inspires others, who has great communication skills, is very visionary, sees the potential in people, is compassionate, listens and allows development.
Expanding network
One of Sandeep’s favourite benefits of her CMI membership has been the networking opportunities, allowing her to expand her contacts significantly and meet with people in similar roles.
“My LinkedIn profile has so many more contacts than it ever would have had if I hadn’t been Chartered!” she says.
If somebody is thinking about becoming a Chartered Manager, I’d say go for it. It’s a fantastic opportunity to really highlight and show off your managerial skills. It provides the possibility of a great career in some senior positions - going up that ladder which, otherwise, you might not be able to do.