From Day One to Week Eight: What Leadership Really Looks Like, by Sarah Swiderski, Head of PERSOL Australia

Authored by Sarah Swiderski, Head of PERSOL Australia, Australia • 2 min read

Stepping into a new leadership role is often imagined as a moment of excitement, momentum, and immediate impact.

The reality? It's something far more considered and far more powerful.

Now eight weeks into my journey as Head of PERSOL Australia, a few lessons have already stood out. They're not necessarily surprising, but they are defining how I approach leadership each day.

Here are my top 3 lessons I have learned.

1. It's a marathon, not a sprint

There's an instinct, especially early on, to dive in and tackle everything at once. New ideas, new opportunities, new challenges… it can feel like everything needs attention, immediately.

But real, sustainable progress doesn't come from doing everything. It comes from doing the right things.

Prioritising what will create meaningful, long-term impact. Pacing change so it sticks and recognising that lasting results are built consistently over time, not overnight. This for me has been laser focus on our PERSOL people, and our customers.

2. Shifting from working in the business to working on the business

One of the biggest mindset shifts is stepping back from the day-to-day micro.

It's no longer about being across every task yourself. Instead, it's about creating clarity, setting direction, aligning priorities, and enabling others to succeed.

Leadership at this level requires you to lift your view:

  • Looking ahead rather than just at what's in front of you
  • Connecting strategy to execution
  • Building momentum across the entire organisation

Because progress isn't driven by one person, it's driven by a team moving in the same direction.

3. Communication is everything

If there's one constant, it's this: nothing matters without clear communication, and when you think you've communicated enough, communicate some more!

Your team needs to understand where they're heading and why it matters. That means:

  • Being transparent, even when things are evolving
  • Creating alignment across teams and functions
  • Reinforcing the message consistently

Leadership isn't about sitting in the driver's seat alone. It's about making sure everyone is on the bus, moving forward together.

Journey ahead

Eight weeks in, there's still so much to learn and that's the exciting part.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity, for the people around me, and for the journey ahead as we continue to build strong relationships with our customers and candidates, partnering together to drive growth and success.

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