New Leader Position - New Opportunity

Starting a new leadership role can be both exciting and a little bit daunting. Whether it is your first step into a leadership position, or your switching roles as a CEO in your existing or a new organisation, you face challenges and you need to develop new relationships with your team members. 

There may be feelings of “imposter syndrome “ creeping in. My first role in Australia was as Regional Manager to a team of highly technical and talented individuals. As a very untechnical person, these feelings were definitely surfacing for me. They weren’t helped by the staff telling me that I couldn’t help them fix a transmitter, so where was the benefit of me being their leader! 

I reminded myself that I had been appointed for my leadership skills and not my technical skills. I applied my people focused leadership philosophy, and got to know the team members. Some took longer than others, but all got to realise that this untechnical person could bring great benefits and build a highly functioning team, delivering excellent results and a more enjoyable work0lace.

For me, the key was to gain quick wins. Deliver a demonstrable benefit in the first month and build from there. 

To do that, you need to:

• Engage with the team members, get to know them.

• Listen to their concerns and suggestions for improvements. Find out what is important to them

• Test your thoughts with them, and don’t be afraid to admit if your wrong and that you’re willing to learn.

• Show the team that you represent them when you talk to your manager or the board.

• Regularly communicate with them. Keep them aware of things at every level of the business. 

People Focused Leadership is about developing:

- A Shared and Common Purpose across the team

- A feeling of Belonging 

- A mutual Trust

- A level of Control for the worker

- A Safe workplace, Physically, Mentally and Emotionally.

If you are coming into a new role, and you’re keen to get that first win and to develop a thriving team, delivering amazing results, contact me here, or visit the InteChange website.