There’s an accompanying level of excitement with any promotion or advancement within a team or organisation – and rightly so.
However, stepping in to a leadership role requires transitioning from the mindset of an individual contributor to one focused on supporting others, setting and communicating a goal or vision, and achieving the desired results through the team.
During the early phases of this transition, it’s not uncommon to experience some elements of self-doubt. It’s also not surprising to indulge in some unhelpful inner dialogue; (e.g., Am I up to this? Will my team members respect my decisions? What if I screw things up?)
If the transition into leadership causes any unwelcomed uncertainty there are steps which can be taken to bridge this phase of transitioning from one role to another.
Tips for Transitioning into Leadership
- Acknowledge the Shift: Understand the potential for a change in dynamics with your colleagues. This doesn’t need to be uncomfortable, but it needs to be monitored.
- Shift from Doing, to Doing while Leading: In most businesses, leadership doesn’t remove you from the hands-on elements of the business. However, your actions will be measured on a different scale – assessing your performance and the performance of the team that you lead.
- Communicate Clearly and Consistently: Establish and maintain transparency with the team – and your manager(s) - to build trust.
- Learn from Other Leaders: Whether from within your organisation or the broader business community, look for others in positions of leadership who appear to be doing a good job. (It’s difficult to be what you can’t see.)
- Hold Yourself Accountable: Rather than let others call you out for any slip-up or underperformance, be your own critic (and cheerleader) – taking ownership for your performance and results.
- Embrace it: Many individuals haven’t had the acknowledgement or recognition that you’ve experienced to achieve this promotion to leadership. So, be sure to soak up the positive vibes while the experience is still fresh in your mind.
Welcome to Leadership!