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How to ensure that the cleaning industry is awash with great leaders
26th of July 2016 Article by Dr Ilham Kadri
Dr Ilham Kadri, president of the Diversey Care division at Sealed Air, writes her latest blog for ECJ. Here, she explains the secret to her success as an effective leader and how she actively encourages the promotion of employee advancement to leadership positions.
Great leaders come in various shapes and sizes. An effective leader must be influential, an excellent communicator, consistently respectful and work to promote change and evolvement for the better. However, I have found that many businesses are still operating in the Dark Ages when it comes to leadership. Globally, 67 per cent currently have no women working in senior leadership positions. Businesses are simply missing out on a large portion of talent.
Gender differences should not carry so much importance when it comes to employing leaders, but unfortunately it does, especially in the cleaning industry where women work in low-level cleaning positions and struggle to rise up. However, for those who have ambitions of becoming female leaders in the industry I, alongside many others, are proof that with hard work, determination and a thick skin, your desire to lead can be realised.
I initially struggled with the transition into leadership positions. Leaders must understand that a key ingredient in the recipe for success is admitting that you are unable to be an expert in every field that you lead in. With my past experience as a chemical engineer, it felt strange to let go of that expertise.
A leader's role is most certainly not based on being an expert. Instead you must be skilful at wearing multiple hats simultaneously; you must be able to juggle operations, finance, commercial actions, team morale and many more. It is this ability to be transitional across all business sectors which places you at the top.
While it is your role to oversee the operation of these departments, having the ability to effectively delegate to the right people at the right time is integral. A leader should enable its team. A leader's priority is to skilfully manage human relationships and interactions at all levels.
The fast-paced cleaning industry has undergone some massive changes in the last few years. Innovative technology breakthroughs have led to the introduction of robotic cleaning, augmented reality technology and interconnected cleaning equipment. These changes have come into fruition because businesses have leaders at the helm who can respond and react effectively to changes. I believe that if leaders fail to be courageous in their decision-making in such a rapidly evolving marketplace, then problems may lie ahead.
For me, leading is something which I am passionate about, and it is this desire to drive a team forward to succeed which defines a leader's success. As a leader I hope that I lead others into fulfilling their capabilities and help make a difference. To be an effectual leader, it is also crucial that you are the agent of change, and you have the ability to spark a movement and be a great example for colleagues. Ultimately, a leader must be open to new ideas, be an agent of marked change and embrace diversity without hesitation.
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