Are You a New Leader? 3 Mistakes to Avoid

So, you have landed a new leadership position?

Congratulations!

You may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the task ahead and that’s ok…

I coach many women every year to help them thrive in new leadership roles…

To think strategically, instead of just diving in headfirst and trying to solve every problem in the first month…

And to build trusting, engaged teams who are excited to be part of something bigger than themselves.

I am going to be diving right into these strategies in a second… and if you want to listen to this discussion on our podcast, Her Ambitious Career, tune into this ep right here.

 

The Privilege of a New Leadership Role

Simon Sinek, the leadership guru, puts it this way,

“Great leaders truly care about those they are privileged to lead.”

And I believe that it is important to think of your new role as exactly that: a privilege.

Your role is to communicate a vision…

And to build and coach the people in your team to achieve great things…

Possibly to achieve outcomes that, before now, they never thought themselves capable.

That is a true privilege indeed.

 

 

So let’s talk about those first weeks and months in a new leadership position…

And how to set yourself up for even greater success.

Are you with me? 🙂 Let’s do it!

Here are 3 mistakes you want to avoid as you take on that role as team leader:

 

Mistake #1

Rushing to Fix Everything ASAP, Without Taking Stock of the Bigger Picture

Taking on a new leadership role can be overwhelming.

There’s potentially so much to do.

And what do you do first?

Try to avoid the compulsion to try and solve every challenge immediately.

You do want some early-wins but you don’t want to get stuck in a ‘survival’, fire-fighting mode either.

Instead, take a step back and look more strategically at what needs to happen first.

 

Mistake #2

Not Fully Understanding the Team You’ve Inherited

It can be a mistake to try to put your own stamp on a new team without fully appreciating first (or acknowledging) what your team has just been through.

• Have you been brought in perhaps, because your predecessor – who was much loved by this team – has left the company? Is there now a big ‘hole’ where they used to be?
• Is this a brand new team, recently united due to a complex corporate merger?
• Was the previous leader toxic and divisive?

These are all examples of how a team can undergo significant change, turmoil and uncertainty.

Consider the mood of the team you have inherited.

What are the individuals going through?

Do they need to be heard?

Do they need compassion, support, encouragement, reassurance?

And what do they need to hear, and see, from you in these first weeks and months to feel supported and back on-track?

 

Mistake #3

Not Taking the Time Early On To Get To Know Your Team

Every individual on your new team has their own values, ambitions, challenges and concerns.

And it’s important that you make the time to speak to each individual in the coming weeks to hear from them.

To listen to them.

And to understand their needs more fully.

You’ll be able to get a better understanding of how the team ‘got here’ and how you can support each individual towards achieving their true ambitions.

 

Hey, I’m Rebecca Allen. I’m a Career Success Coach and Personal Brand specialist who has been helping corporate women build their corporate credibility and visibility for the last 14 years.

If you want to get more free resources from me, here are 3!

3 FREE Ways I Can Help You Get Promoted Faster and Thrive in Your Leadership Role:

1/ Start building your personal brand! Download my awesome free resource: ‘The 7 Habits of Female Execs Who Get Promoted’ – Click here

2/ Get more practical support from my podcast, Her Ambitious Career, on Apple Podcasts – Click here

3/ Ready to work on yourself and your career? If you want to raise the bar and build the credibility and visibility needed to get to that next level, you may be ready to have a chat with me. If you’re ready…. book a 15 minute Career Strategy Call with me and let’s start talking about the strategies you need to elevate your career – Click here