As I left a recent coaching session unsure of how the young emerging leader was actually navigating her new position, many questions began to swirl through my mind.
What would success look like for a new leader?
Is this leader doing all she can do to make a great first impression?
Are there specific skills necessary for all new leaders?
On one hand she seemed to think things were going well with her co-workers but there appeared to be issues with her boss. She was being asked to master new skills at a quicker pace but not given the time to learn them adequately. Anxiety set in coupled with a lack of confidence.
Have you ever felt this way? With our constant moving in and out of different positions throughout our careers, we often face a new leader experience. Both emerging and seasoned leaders deal with similar challenges with each new role we take on.
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We know that it takes many bricks to build a foundation for a new job responsibility. Here are five bricks to help support your leadership:
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
During the coaching session it became clear that the new leader was fearful of asking questions. She did not want her supervisor or her co-workers to think she was unable to perform the required tasks. Instead of feeling paralyzed when we are in a new job situation, we need to be honest about our abilities and then decide who would be the best teacher to learn from.
2. Put The Time In
Many of us have limited time during our day in our job and that may mean devoting some time outside of work to learn new procedures and programs. Although we may not want to “cut into” our personal time, it may be necessary and well worth the investment of our time.
3. Develop A Growth Mindset
According to psychologist Carol Dweck, we each need to foster a “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and to solve problems. In her renowned TED talk she shares a concept called, “The Power of Yet”, where she differentiates not possessing the ability to accomplish something versus not mastering it just yet.
When we are in a new job, we need to motivate ourselves to learn the new skills to grow ourselves in our careers. This is what the coachee needs to do to successfully overcome her new challenges.
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4. Cultivate A Network
Identifying a group of people we can count on that we both work with or connect with is essential for all emerging leaders. Think of these people as an advisory board that you can turn to for honest feedback and guidance. They must have your best interests in mind. Set up regular times to meet with them and be open to their suggestions.
5. Let Your Boss See Your Efforts
Whatever task we decide to tackle it is always a great idea to keep our bosses in the loop. That way we are sharing our hard work as well as how we are mastering our new responsibilities.
What other bricks would you add to support your leadership growth?
I love these “bricks” Terri! Some great advice here—I think that networking is a great way for a new leader to learn more about how others are jumping the same hurdles! To that end, I would make that a fatter brick because it’s not only about good networking, it’s also about having a good support system both inside the work environment and at home.
I agree LaRae that networking is a great brick to build our leadership. Understanding what makes each of our team members tick and learning ways to connect with people to cultivate meaningful relationships is key. I found that by asking colleagues about their interests outside of work can bring to light what is really important to them.
Thanks LaRae for your added insights as always!
I found myself nodding the whole way through your article. I’ve worked with many people who really struggle with your last brick – let your boss see your effort. People can be incredibly focused on delivering results yet sometimes it just takes time. Ensuring your boss understands your effort and path can make all the difference.
Your client is lucky to have you as their coach! I’ve stepped into new roles as a seasoned leader and needed some of these reminders. In some ways, the seasoned leader is especially susceptible to forgetting to share efforts with their new boss. They don’t want to be questioned and really want to show that they have it all under control. Part of building trust and rapport is giving people a peek under the covers once in a while.
~ Alli
Such an important point Alli that seasoned leaders do sometimes forget to keep others informed and that may result in misunderstandings. I saw this in a training program I presented where a senior leader thought it wasn’t critical to pass on some very important data to both his teammates and boss. The result was a great deal of rumors flying around.
Thanks Alli for sharing your great comments! I appreciate you!