5 things I learned from our Senior Leader Frontier week

The first few weeks in a new role can be a whirlwind of emotions for even the most self-assured recruit. It’s an exciting, inspiring and invigorating time but the initial few months can also come with a certain amount of anxiety (Who will show me the ropes? Will I find allies? Am I placing the right bets?) and an intense need to do a good job from the very beginning – to ‘repay’ the trust the company has invested in you. I was thrilled to be promoted to Executive Director at Oliver Wyman at the end of 2023 and these thoughts have certainly been flashing through my mind.?

All this evaporated within seconds of arriving in Mallorca earlier this month for Oliver Wyman’s Senior Leader Frontier learning week. This is a program that our very own Partner Development Team have built to ensure that newly elected Partners and Executive Directors have the tools and community to succeed and be satisfied in their roles. The welcoming smiles from my new colleagues reminded me that the Oliver Wyman crew live the culture, values and fundamental belief that creating the next generation of leaders who have empathy and compassion at their core will always produce better performance. Add to this the expert advice from speakers such as Rich Diviney , Jennifer Garvey Berger and Zafer Achi and I soon realized I can tackle the road ahead with aplomb too.???

Over four brilliant, unforgettable days we laughed, celebrated and made countless new connections. And I learned so much, which I want to share here. ?

I hope the following is useful advice to anybody starting something new out of their comfort zone, whether it’s a new adventure or next stage in their professional life.??

It is possible to tame first-day nerves

One of the most useful things I learned at the Senior Leader Frontier Learning Week came from the inspirational Rich Diviney, an ex-US navy Seal and now author and public speaker. Whenever we start something new, emotions such as stress, fear and uncertainty can overwhelm or paralyze us. But Rich taught us we all have the power to control these feelings ourselves, reframing them into something positive. For example, if we choose to couple our uncertainty with curiosity (asking more questions, taking the effort to learn more about what at first may seem a complex problem), this can create excitement. Whereas if we pair this uncertainty with fear, it’ll only breed more stomach-twisting anxiety. Before any new challenge, channel your fear into excitement: tell yourself that you’re hungry to learn, not nervous.

Win over new colleagues

First impressions really do count. It is critical to show up as YOU - don’t pretend to be anything you’re not. Show up in your most authentic self - this creates connection and trust from the get go. Authenticity isn’t trendy or something we flaunt on social media: it’s a leadership necessity.?

Where possible, share stories about your identity (personal or shared), times you’ve encountered adversity and key moments that have helped shape your path into becoming a better leader.

Use techniques to help: eye contact, smiling, being present and open can all work to show people who you truly are, and avoid biased opinions. And remember to be curious - it’s always worth making an effort to discover what you have in common with your new peers and colleagues.

Listen to learn

In Mallorca we were also fortunate to hear from coaches Jennifer Garvey Berger and Zafer Achi who taught us about the concept of listening to learn. This session was one of my highlights and really resonated. In the past my focus on, and commitment to, people has often made me forget that it is less important to show others how to do things (my way!) and more important to listen to help them find solutions that are right for them.

What we should be doing as leaders is listening to learn instead of listening to fix. This may involve telling others that you may not have the solution and can’t make the problem go away – a horrifying thought for many managers! But by taking the effort to understand that person and paying attention to what they say, we can get to grips with whatever is bothering them. You might not have a quick-fix remedy, but you’ll be much better-prepared to address the problem together. Not only will people appreciate you more for your honesty, but it’ll also make you a better team member and leader too.

And if something goes wrong…

a) Take stock by recognizing what happened. Look and listen carefully.

b) React using all the data and intelligence you have at your disposal, mastering the art of giving feedback.

c) Recover to help you build resilience for whatever’s next.

d) Reflect so you can avoid similar mishaps from occurring.

Complexity can be wild and unpredictable, but using the right tools, we can learn to thrive in it.

Keep on evolving

Just like the increasingly complex world we live in, we also need to keep changing. Spend time trying to unlock your future identity. Don’t bring the person you were in your previous role to your new office. You’ll soon find that by loosening your grip on your current identity, you can truly fly high.