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Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading

helps you in your leadership.

 

Cheers,

Jonno White

7 Questions with John Hernandez
7 Questions with John Hernandez

Name: John Hernandez

Current title: Editor-in-Chief, Digital Content Strategy

Current organisation: ALM

Through in-depth study of performance metrics and analysis, I am responsible for the development of digital strategies to maximize web traffic, deepen audience engagement and monetize digital products.

7 Questions with John Hernandez

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader of a small or medium enterprise?

Getting people to understand that just because "this is how we've always done it," does not mean it is the way we should do it.

2. How did you become a leader of an SME? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I was the web editor of one of the regional brands at ALM. Back then, unless you were in New York, leaders were not plucked to lead larger groups. But I was very fortunate to have a manager who did notice the work that was being done in the regions and when that person left, he put my name forward as his replacement and fortunately, his manager agreed.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Day-to-day, I am extremely busy, and multiple meetings do not help. The way I structure my day is essentially to focus. I know it may sound simplistic, but the reality is, if you focus and are a good time manager, you will get a lot done. I listen to music all day and that allows me to keep my head down and do what I need to accomplish.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

I am not always right. There are many folks who do believe they always are, but I am not one of them. I use data and have a very in-depth knowledge of the data. Numbers don't lie, but numbers don't always tell the whole story either. That's the lesson.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

I am a huge history buff and everything I read revolves around history. I also love geology. So to answer this question, it's not any book per se, it's more the idea of looking at the big picture and not looking at things in a narrow scope of time. You have to take a step back and look at it from afar before you can make honest assessments of what you see on a daily basis.

6. How do you build leadership capacity in an SME?

You have to be confident in your abilities, but you also have to allow room for growth and be able to listen to others and get their input and their point of view. The old saying "there is no I in team."

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader of an SME so far?

As long as what you say you can back up with concrete examples or data, people will respect you, and if they don't, despite the evidence, then those who don't are folks that just will not get it no matter what you say or prove to them. So don't stress it is the story that comes to mind.

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