Alison Edgar MBE.
Keynote speaker, Author of SMASH IT! The Art of Getting What YOU Want & Chief SMASHER at SMASH IT! Training
What do you do now?
My first business is ‘Alison Edgar MBE’, this is the speaker side of my career. I am a motivational events speaker who has travelled over the world embracing change and disruptive thinking. Last year though, I launched SMASH IT! Training, my corporate training and coaching company that offers bespoke, contemporary services for teams everywhere. It is based off of my bestselling book, SMASH IT! The Art of Getting What YOU Want.
Where did your career start?
My first job was in a hotel in Clydebank, Scotland. I was 16 years old, and I had no prior experience in hospitality when I started there, but the owners still took me on and gave me their trust. I knew that I had a passion for working with people and it was working in that hotel that made me realize I had great skills in customer service. Working in hospitality then evolved to working in sales. I then started my own sales training business and after many great years, I started my public speaking business and my business in the personal development industry.
Has there been a stage in your life where you first appreciated what great leadership looked like?
The greatest leader I have ever had in my life was a woman named Julie Shields. I met her when I had my first job in Australia. I had just got off a coach that I had been on for 36 hours with no shower, change of clothes or even a toothbrush. Literally as soon as I stepped off the bus, I was told that Julie wanted to interview me - she wasn't faffing around.
I got the job and Julie was the best manager that I’d ever had. She could make quick, calculated decisions yet she was patient and compassionate. She was also fantastic at delegation, and always knew what we would excel in. When she got promoted, she would bring me with her so as her career progressed, so did mine. Julie had a massive impact on me and my career and, as a result of that, 30 years on, we are still in contact and try to visit each other where we can.
Do you have any examples of what you have done to develop yourself as a leader?
As my career has changed and developed over the years, so have my skills. Taking on your own team involves a few skills that you can't just ‘pick up’. So instead, I did my research.
The DISC model was the first thing that really helped me to understand that there are different types of people and to ‘treat people how they want to be treated instead of how you want to be treated’. It helped me to understand that not everyone is like me. People have different driving forces, different motivators, different communication preferences and it was my job as their leader to adapt to these.
How do you think Leadership has benefitted you?
In my opinion, leaders shape leaders. Over the years I have worked with kind leaders, ones who understand their team’s issues and are compassionate. I have also worked with bad leaders, ones who believe their teams are there to serve them, rather than the other way around. Because I was part of the team, I began to learn how different leadership styles make you feel, I began to develop an understanding on what works and what doesn't and just how to be a good leader. From Julie I learned how to be a compassionate leader, who genuinely cares about their team's progression. From Sue I learned how to have structure, how to be organized. My leaders were my mentors, and everyone needs a mentor.
Fast forward to 2022 and my team is like my family, we always keep in touch and update each other on our lives. The full circle moment for me was when my ex-employees started coming to visit me. Natasha, who used to be on my team, is staying with me whilst visiting the UK from Australia!