“I am not an expert, but I play one on TEAMS”: How to Manage Multidisciplinary Teams
My early career was in retail. I quickly moved from the stock room to the sales floor, to the manager’s desk. I was first promoted to management at the ripe old age of 25, and I was woefully unprepared. I knew tactical responsibilities well but had no idea what strategy meant or how to lead a team of 15 part-time associates that ballooned to 30+ during the holiday season. I was a micromanager, a perfectionist who was afraid of failure. If you asked the team about me, they would, “she’s nice and puts customers first, but when she’s stressed, watch out!”
I was in WAY over my head and quickly realized I did not want to pursue a career in retail. I pivoted to recruiting and was promoted to a management role AGAIN! I was once more in a position for which I was not prepared. I was miserable; I hung up my manager hat and settled into individual contributor roles for a couple of decades.
Eventually, I mastered the day-to-day tactical skills, and my strategic thinking and ideation also matured. It was time to lead.
Bridget Papanicholas is CEO & Managing Director of TRANSEARCH USA. As head of the project delivery team, Bridget leads a team of senior recruiters and researchers as she oversees all the TRANSEARCH Chicago searches. She partners directly with executives to provide terrific insight on candidates and outstanding service during the interview and on-boarding process. Her passion for process and consistency has been instrumental in streamlining and improving search processes and project timelines.
