Introducing Cassandra
Cassandra has been at Enfield Council for over 19 years. Throughout her tenure, she has held various positions, starting as an Assistant Support Officer, advancing to Senior Technical Support Officer, and currently serving as the Technical Support Team Leader.
In her role as Technical Support Team Leader, Cassandra leads a dynamic team within the Planning and Growth Service Area. Her responsibilities include managing her team's performance, spearheading minor change projects, overseeing the validation process for planning applications, and ensuring the efficient processing of simple planning applications through the ‘Fast Track’ team. This specialised team was established to handle straightforward permitted development applications.
In this interview, Cassandra shares insights into her inspiration for pursuing a leadership role, how she navigates her daily responsibilities, and advice for those aspiring to become team leaders.
What inspired you to get into your job?
Growing up in Tottenham/Edmonton, I felt a strong connection to my community and saw this as a perfect opportunity to give back. Despite not having direct management experience in my previous roles, when the Team Leader position was advertised, I saw it as a chance to take on a new challenge.
I have always been passionate about communication, interpersonal skills, and empowering others. I believed these strengths made me a good fit for the role. Although stepping into the Team Leader position was a significant leap, Enfield Council's extensive career development opportunities enabled me to build on my existing skills, ultimately leading to my successful appointment.
How does a typical workday morning start for you?
My workday usually begins with a coffee to kickstart my morning. After that, I check in with my team to ensure everyone is doing well. I organize and allocate tasks, sending reminders about urgent responsibilities as needed. Effective communication is something I prioritise, and I believe motivating my team is key to our success.
As part of my role and the Council's culture, I frequently attend scheduled meetings with both internal stakeholders, like elected members, and external stakeholders. I also make it a point to hold regular team meetings and one-on-one sessions to guide, support, and share knowledge.
What advice would you have liked to have had about your profession if you were just starting out now?
Securing this role was a significant step for me, and having a better understanding of how the team operates and what their objectives are would have been invaluable as a new starter. This insight would have helped me assess whether I was a good fit for the team.
It would also have been helpful to know about the team's past achievements, such as any internal awards highlighted on the Intranet. This information could have provided me with a clearer picture of the team's capabilities and accomplishments.
What is the highlight of your role so far and what has been your biggest learn to date?
One of my proudest achievements has been working collaboratively to establish the ‘Fast Track’ team. This accomplishment, achieved through hard work and dedication, involved intensive training sessions and handling live cases as a team. We received valuable feedback from the Planning Decisions Manager and support from the Planners, which helped us refine our approach.
The creation of this team has led to faster outcomes for customers with simple planning applications. I am proud of the recognition we've received from Senior Management and elected members, which has motivated me to continue fostering collaboration and communication within my team.
The biggest lesson I've learned is to trust my instincts and be bold in taking on new roles and challenges. This has been instrumental in achieving one of my career goals.
What are your future professional aspirations?
As someone new to this role, I’m still learning and growing. Moving from a Senior Technical Support Officer to Technical Support Team Leader has been a significant transition. However, I am ambitious and eager to further develop my management skills. I aspire to continue upskilling, which I believe will positively impact my future career progression.
Enfield Council offers a range of training programs for managers, such as Principles of Managing, Absence Management, Aspirational Leadership, Behavior and Performance Management, Disability Confidence for Managers, and Managing Mental Health in the Workplace. These programs have been incredibly beneficial in enhancing my skills and knowledge, and I highly recommend them to other managers looking to advance their careers within the Council.