Donna Alteen - Know Who You Serve | The Executive Chair

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The one question you always want to ask a successful person in a senior leadership role is “How did you get there?” In developing your own career, you learn more from hearing what worked – and didn’t work – from senior leaders and hearing their wisdom than from any other source.

We are embarking on a series of interviews with leaders who exemplify success for us. In their words are insights that can give you direction for moving your own career forward.

To read a summary, written by Michael DeVenney, of the past 12 interviews this year - click here.

Donna Alteen - Know Who You Serve

Donna Alteen:
President and CEO
of Time and Space Media

Insights from Donna…
Michael (MD): What did you do to move to a leadership role?

Donna (DA): Be in it - be consistent, tenacious and invest in hard work. There is no way to grow a businesswithout a strong work ethic. You have to be innovative in finding solutions and product development and reallybe service-oriented. We all serve someone and you need to know who you serve, what they need, and deliver it.There is too much emphasis on process and fitting people in a system. Know who you serve.You need to get out of your office - you need to get out and connect with people. Find people in similar positionsand connect. Find out the skills you need to achieve and get the training to get there.

MD: What is one thing that developing professionals need to do more of?

DA: Learning - continuous learning. Business and people today are really interesting. When I graduated fromuniversity with my BBA, I set out to conquer the world and I thought I had what I needed. I didn't valueeducation and learning as much as today and strongly believe that developing professionals need to makelearning a core competence. They need to be assertive in building skills - it is their career and they need to takecharge of it. When people show how keen they are to learn, I love it.

MD: What about doing less of?

DA: People need to be less focused on titles. There is a lot of focus on "what's my job title?" and the priorityshould be on "what's my relevance?" Focus on how you show your value and how to manage up - show yourboss how relevant you are to the organization.

MD: What experience helped you the most in your career and why?

DA: Rapid growth - a few times my organization has gone through rapid growth and it focuses you to developskills you need to know - from both stances of opportunity and challenge. You learn management skills for sureand need to drill deeper increasing value to clients to be better at what you do. Winning that big account makesus better as an organization.

MD: What was the greatest challenge moving your career forward?

DA: Growth! It helped and it challenged at the same time. How to manage resources, find talent, and move theorganization forward to grow new business units and services. The outcome is that you get to better service andproducts. You are really more focused on your team and make sure they are developing the skills they need -you mentor them along. There are always all kinds of challenges - even down to physical space - but as a leaderthey help to hone your leadership skills.

MD: What is the greatest strength of your approach to leadership?

DA: I reach out for guidance from experts when I need it. I am not thinking I need to know it all - I need toknow what I need and then reach out to the right person for the rest.

MD: What has been the biggest surprise you have had since attaining a senior leadership role?

DA: How easy it is to manage people if you come from the right place of serving them. If you inherently believepeople are capable and able to do the job - rather than they are broken and need to be fixed - you can beauthentic with them. Even in difficult situations like letting someone go, if it is the best solution for theorganization and them, you can be honest and true about it. There are always people issues in all organizations- you need to come from an authentic place of listening. I used to dread managing people and now I love it.

MD: What is the greatest benefit to you in attaining a senior leadership role?

DA: Understanding that I don't need to know the answer. I can engage people to find the solution. I don't get sofrightened anymore or need much confidence when facing tough situations. If I don't know it, I can learn it orsource it. For a problem, I know the solution is out there and I'll find it. I have been through it and can deal withthe challenges.Perhaps one of the things that is a real benefit from being in a leadership role is that you can have a real impactand contribute back to society in terms of volunteering, charitable efforts, etc. To me this is a very importantresponsibility of a good leader – giving back, helping to create a better world. You find what interests you, seewhere change is needed, and help make that come about. I think this is a real need for leaders as well – to get out of their own environment and be involved.

MD: What is the next achievement you want in your leadership career?

DA: I would like to change what marketing and media is doing in our area and continue to be a leader inconnecting businesses with their customers in a very changing time. I want to stay current and keep learning. MD: What is your greatest learning as a leader?DA: We all serve someone. Know who you serve, what they need, and deliver it.