What are the most common mistakes that Technical Support professionals make when they first become leaders?

One common mistake that Technical Support Professionals often make when transitioning into a leadership role, they remain fail to provide proper feedback to their team members, and not paying adequate time to the team are the most common mistakes that leaders make. The tendency to prioritize technical expertise over managerial skills. While proficiency in troubleshooting and resolving technical issues is crucial, effective leadership requires additional competencies such as communication, team building, and strategic thinking. When your team has a large workload, it's important to have enough people "on board" to cope with it. But filling a vacant role too quickly can be a disastrous mistake.

When Technical Support professionals transition into leadership roles, common mistakes include micromanaging instead of empowering their team, neglecting to communicate effectively and transparently, failing to provide clear expectations and guidance, not prioritizing professional development, and overlooking the importance of building strong relationships with team members.

Micromanagement Neglecting Communication Lack of Empathy Avoiding Conflict Resolution Overlooking Recognition and Feedback Not Setting Clear Goals

As leaders, it's common to want to handle everything, but not delegating can lead to burnout. Trust your team and distribute tasks based on strengths and expertise. Delegating empowers your team members and fosters a collaborative environment. ????

Technical people pride themselves on their technical ability and this leads them to sometimes think the smartest one in the room should be in charge. This then results in someone who gets the promotion to management thinking they need to constantly prove they're that they are the smart one in the room or else lose credibility. This attitude can quickly lead to a pattern of being hyper-critical and self-defensiveness toward the team you're supposed to be supporting. A good leader should clarify the priorities of work, set clear, reasonable expectations, and protect the team by managing its relationships with the larger environment. Any leader more concerned with being the most technical will fail on one of the more important areas.

The impact of not communicating enough cannot be overstated. Clear and open communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership, especially in the dynamic field of technology. When leaders fail to communicate adequately, it creates a void that can lead to misunderstandings, decreased morale, and a lack of alignment within the team. I prioritize transparent communication to ensure everyone is informed, engaged, and working towards our common goals. It fosters a collaborative environment and empowers my team to navigate challenges effectively.

Si no tienes el adiestramiento necesario, la comunicación entre la directiva y con el equipo puede volverse una barrera muy difícil de superar. Además, es importante controlar las emociones para que nuestras comunicaciones no se vean influenciadas. ????

When communicate with your team (or another group), I find it very important to clearly state "why" you tell/ask/require something. Only by clearly communicating the reason behind some thing, you are able to motivate the team, because then we all share the same goal or vision.

Effective communication is the backbone of leadership. Failing to keep your team informed about goals, expectations, and changes can create confusion and hinder productivity. Regular, transparent communication builds trust and ensures everyone is on the same page. ????

Another common mistake new leaders make is not communicating enough with their team, leading to confusion, frustration, and disengagement. To avoid this, new leaders should communicate frequently and openly, updating their team on project statuses, providing constructive feedback, and soliciting their input and opinions.

New leaders often fall into the trap of believing they know it all or lack time for learning. This mindset stifles growth and adaptability. Embracing continuous learning, feedback, and new ideas is crucial for effective leadership.

Leadership is a continuous learning journey. Failing to invest time in personal and professional development can result in stagnant leadership. Stay updated on industry trends, leadership strategies, and enhance your skills to lead with knowledge and confidence. ????

A third common mistake new leaders make is not prioritizing learning, which can limit their growth and effectiveness. To avoid this, new leaders should embrace a learning mindset, seeking feedback, taking courses, reading, and experimenting with new ideas.

Just because one obtains a leadership position - the learning does not stop there. As a leader, there is always a continuous learning process. This enables him/her to continue to grow in their current position and become a more effective leader. There are constant changes, and not adjusting to them will hinder growth opportunities.

Precisamos compreender que o ser humano nunca será completo ou vai saber de tudo... Ent?o trabalhe suas hábitos para sempre estar com fome de conhecimento, seja ele qual for... cozinhar, tricotar, seja para sua evolu??o como pessoa e / ou profissional. N?o se permita ficar parado, busque sempre ser melhor hoje do que você foi ontem.

Micromanagement stifles creativity and growth. Failing to empower your team by providing autonomy and trusting their abilities can lead to dissatisfaction and reduced productivity. Give your team the space to excel and contribute their unique strengths. ????

Another common mistake new leaders make is not empowering their team enough, which can hinder motivation and creativity. To avoid this, leaders should involve their team in decision-making, offer autonomy, and support their initiatives.

In my experience as a technical support executive, I'd say that failing to set clear expectations and ignoring soft skills are two most unexplored mistakes that professionals make when they first become leaders. Without clear goals and expectations, team members may struggle to understand their roles and priorities. New leaders should clearly communicate expectations regarding performance and goals to ensure alignment and accountability. On the other hand, Technical skills are essential in technical support roles, but leadership requires strong soft skills such as empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. Neglecting these skills can lead to difficulties in managing team dynamics and resolving conflicts.

To be empowered means you can can fail. If someone can't fail at something, they aren't really empowered. So think of empowerment as a tool, not a goal. As a tool, it can work well, but there are times/places where empowerment is not advised. Do you want someone who lacks the context and experience to make a decision that could severely impact the org? You may, but I guarantee they don't. Effective leaders are transparent about their limits around trust and empowerment. They have clear guidelines about how and when they will empower their teams and where they won't.

Fearing that empowerment may result in chaos or mistakes, new leaders are frequently reluctant to give up control. But if the team isn't given enough authority, it could impede its growth and potential.

In my professional journey, I've come to understand that possessing exceptional technical expertise doesn't automatically translate into effective leadership. While mastery of one's craft is vital, leadership is a distinct skill honed through interpersonal dynamics and learning from both successes and failures. It's common for technically adept individuals to overlook the human element when managing their teams, inadvertently neglecting the crucial aspect of understanding and catering to the needs of their employees. Disregarding the human element in leadership is a critical oversight that can hinder organizational success and employee morale.

When changing the perspective from a team MEMBER to a team LEADER, it's important to remember that not everything that you didn't like as a team member was necessarily bad. For example: You didn't like writing internal articles? Tough noogies. It's still the right thing for your team members to do. It's time for you to re-think about a lot of things, from this new perspective you should have.

Leadership requires proactive decision-making. Hesitating to make tough decisions or avoiding taking a stand can create indecision within the team. Embrace leadership responsibilities, make informed choices, and guide your team towards success. ????

Another common mistake new leaders make is not taking on the role of a leader effectively. They may hesitate to make tough decisions or set boundaries, fearing a loss of popularity. However, this can undermine their authority and credibility. To avoid this, new leaders should lead by example, set clear expectations, and address issues promptly and fairly.

One time at work, a new leader acted more as a team member than a leader, avoiding tough decisions and accountability to maintain popularity. This undermined their authority. Leaders should set clear expectations and enforce standards promptly and fairly.

?????? ???????????????????? ????????????. No matter how well one’s technical expertise is, the ability to have others feel seen, heard, and valued is what will help transform a group of individuals who work together into an effective, fulfilled, accomplished team.

Feedback Ignorance: Neglecting feedback from team members can hinder growth. Actively seek and consider feedback to improve your leadership style. Lack of Recognition: Failing to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of your team can lead to demotivation. Regularly recognize and reward achievements. Absence of Team Development: A successful leader invests in the growth of their team. Provide training opportunities and encourage skill development. Ignoring Work-Life Balance: Overloading your team with tasks without considering work-life balance can lead to burnout. Failure to Adapt: In a dynamic work environment, leaders must adapt to change. Not embracing change or resisting innovation can hinder progress.

- Don’t memorize the weakness of your team members and always say it to them but instead memorize the strengths and praise them - Give fair opportunity to all team members and don’t discriminate or giving opportunities to your friends only - Award the good achievements - Active listening then provide constructive feedback with SMART quick wins

- focus on the the strengths and praise them instead of memorizing and pointing out the weakness - provide fair opportunity to all team members and avoid favoritism - Recognize and Award the good achievements - practice Active listening and give constructive feedback with SMART quick wins

One common mistake is micromanaging instead of trusting the team's abilities. Another is neglecting communication – leaders should ensure clear and transparent communication with both their team and other departments. Failing to adapt and embrace new technologies or methodologies can hinder progress. Lastly, not prioritizing self-development can limit a leader's effectiveness. Successful technical support leaders balance oversight, communication, adaptability, and continuous personal growth.