In our latest episode of Workday Gold, Christian and I explore Chapter 14 of my book “Workday Gold Software Support Edition,” focusing on growth opportunities within the Workday ecosystem.

Knowing Yourself: The Foundation of Growth

Self-awareness is critical for professional development. Through assessments like StrengthsFinder, I discovered “responsibility” is my top strength—I naturally ensure no balls drop, even when they’re not mine. While valuable, this led to late nights during implementations and eventual burnout. Understanding what energizes versus drains you helps ensure your work remains sustainable.

Why You Support Workday & Always Learning

Knowing your “why” for supporting Workday provides purpose during challenging times. Many of us enjoy the satisfaction of configuring the system to meet organizational needs and making a positive impact on users.

In Workday’s constantly evolving environment, approach your expertise with humility. No one knows everything about Workday, and each new release creates a level playing field where everyone, both consultants and Workday support teams, learns simultaneously.

From Individual Contributor to Manager

Transitioning from handling tickets to enabling team success requires a fundamental shift in mindset. I’ve coached managers who struggled to delegate tasks that their team members could easily manage. By letting go of tactical work, they created space for strategic thinking, which ultimately led to recognition from senior leadership.

New managers must protect their calendars by blocking time for strategic work and team communication before their schedules fill up with meetings.

Leadership Principles & Mindset

Good managers take heat when things go wrong while giving credit to their team when things go right. This protective stance builds loyalty, as one team member told me after I shielded them from criticism, “I’ll go into any battle if you’ve got my back.”

Try reframing “I have to do this” as “I get to do this.” In the Workday space, we earn good money using specialized skills, a privilege not everyone has. Your words reveal and affect your mindset about work.

Today’s Workday ecosystem offers a wealth of resources through podcasts, books, LinkedIn, and community forums. The community is incredibly generous, so don’t hesitate to reach out, just use people’s time respectfully.

Whether developing technical skills, enhancing leadership capabilities, or reframing your mindset, there are always paths forward within the Workday ecosystem.