Stepping into a new leadership role, whether you are a seasoned executive or a first-time supervisor can be a hair-raising experience. It is often a time met with a whole stew of mixed and contradicting feelings – excitement and fear, confidence and “what the heck am I doing here?”, drowning overwhelm, and “I got this”.
Navigating this hairy time is an area of continuous study and research for two reasons:
- A failed leadership appointment is very expensive.
- A long and drawn out integration period is almost equally expensive.
Both situations have a negative effect on team morale, engagement and productivity.
A few things to do when settling down in your new role:
1. Share your story.
Your new team is very interested in what they are dealing with on a daily basis. The person that appointed you is already sold on your skills and leadership capacity. Your team however, probably not. As per a recent HBR article by David Sluss, there are two types of people in your team, warriors and worriers.
The warriors are concerned about whether you have the relevant knowledge, experience and competencies to comprehend their roles, and do you have the leadership capacity. They are evaluating you to see if they will support you. Their barrage questioning and digging may feel as though they are undermining you, however it is probably not their intent.
The worriers on the other hand need to know that they will be safe in this new setting. They need clear expectations, and insight into future plans and how you will lead.
To settle in with the new team, know yourself, your values and who you will be as the leader in this setting. How will you lead? Have a strong story to tell about experience, expectations, competence, the future, and your general leadership approach.
2. Focus hard on time management and personal effectiveness.
Navigating the people aspect of your new role will be time consuming and taxing. Getting a grip on the tactical aspects of the role is often the safe place (at the cost of building rapport with the team), or the stuff that gets attention after hours, which will push you right into overwhelm and exhaustion. This is a good time to sharpen your time management muscles and be very disciplined about scheduling and time blocking, even for self-care. Being the best “you”, is your only leadership tool.
3. Ramp up your support system.
Make sure that you have a solid support system in place to help you manage difficult situations, doubt, and your inner dialogue through the settling in period, and beyond. Having a mentor, a leadership coach and strong relationship with your boss are three key supports that will help you pave the way forward and navigate the balance between people and tactical elements of the role.
Take control of your new leadership position by focusing on the right things, not the comfortable things. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your team, and you will be paving the road to success for you and your new team.
