Managing people can be difficult, but it can be especially difficult if it is your first time in a leadership or management role.
The leadership transition can often leave you feeling isolated and disconnected from your peers. Managing people is vastly different than managing tasks.
Let me share some lessons I have learned that may help you transition into leadership.
Embrace Continuous Learning
Stepping into an executive role is a huge achievement, but it’s just the beginning. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Stay updated with industry trends, and don’t shy away from new challenges.
As you navigate your new role, your time will be spent more managing your team and less on actionable tasks. If you want to keep your knowledge and skills sharp, you must actively seek ways to educate yourself. Remember, the best leaders are often the most avid learners.
Develop Emotional Intelligence
As an executive, you manage not just tasks but also people. Emotional Intelligence is key. This means understanding your own emotions and those of others. It helps build stronger teams, manage conflicts, and create a positive work environment.
In my opinion, emotional intelligence is the skill lacking in most leaders today, yet it’s crucial to maintaining a team that will follow you into battle when necessary. You are now managing a group of humans, each with emotions, needs, worries, fears, dreams, passions, etc.
Your ability to understand and relate will single-handedly make or break your management career.
Foster Inclusive Leadership
Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a leadership superpower. Promote diversity in thoughts, experiences, and backgrounds within your team. This enhances creativity and innovation and reflects positively on your leadership style.
Lead by example, show your team exactly how you expect them to behave, treat one another, interact amongst departments, etc. If they see you being inclusive, it sets the tone for anyone working under you.
Build Your Network
Your network is your net worth, especially in executive roles. Connect with other leaders, mentors, and industry experts. Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards; it’s about building relationships that offer mutual growth and support.
Remember when I mentioned that moving into your first executive role can feel isolating? Well, this is one of the ways you can keep that from happening.
Surrounding yourself with a network of people you can call on for support, understanding, feedback, and advice can help propel you to new levels you never knew existed.
Prioritize Work-Life Integration
As an executive, getting caught up in a whirlwind of responsibilities is easy. Remember to create a balance. Taking time for exercise, meditation, and hobbies can rejuvenate your mind and enhance your productivity at work.
I call it work-life integration instead of balance because it is what you make of it.
However, it is important that you don’t become a workaholic, and it is just as equally important that you don’t become so engrossed in your personal life that you become ineffective in your role as a leader.
Don’t Direct, Inspire
Stepping into your first executive role is a journey filled with growth, challenges, and opportunities.
Remember, leadership is not just about directing others; it’s about inspiring, understanding, and growing with them. The lessons and strategies we’ve discussed are stepping stones towards becoming a leader who achieves goals and creates a positive and lasting impact.
As you embark on this exciting path, remember that your journey is unique.
Embrace it with confidence, empathy, and an unyielding commitment to learning.
Here’s to your success as a new leader – may you lead with wisdom, inspire with passion, and thrive with resilience.
Last modified: January 22, 2024
