Lisa Schorm is Team Lead of our “Customer Success” department at Perseus. And not only that. She has been on board for almost 4 years and is the good soul of the team. She started at Perseus as a Customer Service Manager. She is always approachable for our customers and handles requests of any kind. In the last few years, Lisa has changed a lot – professionally as well as privately. Today she is Team Lead and also a happy mother. On the occasion of Women’s Day, we talked to her to find out what the secret of her success is. Many thanks to Lisa for the exciting insights and the honest words.
Have fun reading!
What do you enjoy most about being a team lead? What has changed about your day-to-day work?
In the past, I was mainly responsible for dealing with customer issues – a lot of being on the phone, e-mails and crisis management. The new position adds more organizational stuff. I now have a lot of meetings with other departments and increased interaction with individual members of my team. Customer contact is still there, of course, but it has been reduced somewhat. Because of the new position as Team Lead, more topics end up on my desk than before, and coordination with various internal stakeholders takes up a large part of my daily routine.
I enjoy it most when I see that my team is happy and all members always know that they can turn to me and are heard. I am a helpful person and am happy when I can support others. No matter whether it’s customers or team members.
What does good leadership mean to you? What kind of behavior do you find exemplary in other or former superiors?
It is very important to me to still be able to participate in the day-to-day business of customer service. Because only when I also participate in the day-to-day requests of customers and the challenges of the team do I know what I can and cannot expect from my team.
My former boss was an absolute role model for me. She showed me that you can achieve a lot with empathy and trust in your employees.
For me, good leadership means being there for my team and always having an open ear. This includes respectful interaction, humor and empathy. In addition, it is important that the tasks that land on the table for each employee are those that are most appropriate for him or her. In this way, the full potential of the team can be realized and the employees are satisfied with what they do. It is very important that the autonomy and self-determination of the employees is not lost. Freedom is a basic requirement – I’m allergic to micromanagement.
Do you feel that as a woman you do something differently than, for example, a male colleague in a similar position?
I am a super emphatic person. I don’t know if that has anything to do with my gender. Between you and me, the tasks of a team lead have a lot of parallels to raising children. If a child cries, is stubborn or angry, you have to take care of it and find a solution that is satisfactory and workable for everyone. It’s the same or similar with employees 😀.
What were your first thoughts when you were offered the new position?
I was extremely happy to be offered this opportunity, as I could always imagine being Team Lead. I have always been the “Muddi” of the team and was even more pleased that other stakeholders also see me in this role and trust me with this great challenge.
How do you manage your everyday life as a young mother and manager?
Balancing family and job involves a lot of organization, coordination and, of course, stress. We don’t have to kid ourselves about that. Especially when children are still young, you have to be so open and honest about it. But I’m very lucky to have a fantastic partner by my side, with whom I work together. Also, my employer allows me to organize my workday myself to a certain extent and still be there for my family. In addition, I have a great team that always has my back.
What is your best advice for women who decide to venture into a leadership position?
I don’t have any specific advice for women. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what gender you are when you venture into a leadership position. You should always be close to the team’s tasks in order to understand the needs of the employees and specifically advocate for them. Motivational skills, empathy and self-confidence. In my opinion, these are three important pillars of good leadership. Of course, there is much more to it. These three qualities are by no means enough, but they are a good start 😀