Andrew Stotter-Brooks.
Vice President, Learning and Development at Etihad Aviation Group
Where did your career start and what do you do now?
I started off my career Dish Washing at Hotel Bristowe in Southbourne Dorset UK. Now, I am the Vice President of Learning and Development at Etihad Aviation Group HQ in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Has there been a stage in your life where you first appreciated what great leadership looked like?
During my late teens, as Assistant Manager for ‘Berni Inns’. For me it was the importance of the responsibility and accountability and critically how I was empowered to make decisions. When those decisions didn’t quite go to plan my leaders Coached me back through outcomes, positive or negative and continued to support me as a Human Being (They got more out of me as an engaged Human).
Three things that I learned very early about great leadership:
1.) It’s hard work! Great leaders make it look easy, it’s not!
2.) Understand what your teams need (and customer’s, guests, stakeholders, peers, partners etc). People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Caring makes authentic leaders.
3.) Be you – Authentic and Honest, I’ve never tried to play the Superhero, always just a team member in the same team doing my part to help others learn and grow with me.
Do you have any examples of what you have done to develop yourself as a leader?
Great reflective practice, I journal every day, helps control my worrying (doesn’t work 100%) and every interaction with another human is an opportunity to connect and build relationships and relationships get stuff done.
Humans have 4 simple needs:
1.) A need to be Heard.
2.) A need to be Respected.
3.) A need to be Acknowledged.
4.) A need to be Remembered.
Make Eye Contact, offer a warm greeting, offer assistance, and end with a fond farewell. This all sounds incredibly simple – but knowing is easy, doing is incredibly difficult and being makes you the Master.
How do you think Leadership has benefitted you?
I’ve worked on every continent met thousands of beautiful humans. I’m often asked were my energy comes from? Simply from others and the reactions I get from others. Let’s start being more and less doing as leaders. Experience and allowing others those experiences empowers and grows your team.