1 minute read
CMgr: How I’ve changed
by CMI_
Tuaneri Akoto CMgr, chief executive of charity Elevated Aspirations, gave up his troublemaking instincts to become a manager driven by kindness
“i’ve always had an abundance of confidence – it’s almost the opposite of imposter syndrome! However, CMI taught me introspection and helped me further develop existing skills such as empathy and humility, because confidence alone isn’t enough.
“I’ve worked in the charity and not-for-profit sector for 38 years, supporting disadvantaged children and adults across east London, as well as colleagues who have been bullied. My ethos is about honesty, trust and integrity. They’re traits that I’ve incorporated into my working life thanks to my phenomenal CMI course supervisor.
“I wasn’t always like this. I was mischievous and troublesome at school and was always being reprimanded. I was the kid who would get caught running in the corridors.
“As I grew up and matured, I realised that who I was at school wasn’t the person I wanted to be. There were teachers and people on my side who encouraged me to be a better person. I remember thinking, ‘If someone cares for me this much and makes me feel this good, I want to do that for other people, too.’ I’ve really grown to loathe bullying – and particularly bullying managers.
“I became a CMgr because I wanted to further develop my humanity. I already had a degree, a master’s and an MBA, but the focus was always on managing people for profit. CMI is about managing for a particular outcome from a humane perspective.
“As I progressed, I realised I was taking too much on myself, to the detriment of my projects and my team. I created a better framework, with clear roles and responsibilities so that people could understand their parameters, giving them the autonomy to do their jobs while still knowing when to call upon more experienced staff.
“I’m now fairly confident in my abilities as a manager, although I’m always trying to expand my knowledge. My current role is more focused on people and development, and thankfully I’m a good fit for that these days.”
