Why transitioning to a leadership role stalls careers
Kate Thomas
Leadership & Team Effectiveness Expert | Talent Strategy Advisor | 1:1 Executive Coach | Top Team Performance Coach |Host of 'The Leadership Effectiveness Podcast'| Author of 'The 4 Levers of Leadership Impact
Transitioning into a leadership role is a challenging journey, and not everyone succeeds. Here are my key insights on how to navigate this transition successfully:
1. Redefining Success:
The most difficult part of this transition is redefining what success means. It's no longer just about individual achievements, but about how you can uplift and empower others. Success becomes less about personal gain and more about collective progress.
2. Embracing Ambiguity:
As a leader, you must be comfortable with ambiguity and lack of clarity. Embracing change and taking calculated risks are essential parts of the leadership role. If you crave structure and stability, leadership may not be the right fit for you.
3. Celebrate not having the answer:
Leadership readiness is about being comfortable with not having all the answers. Overconfidence and resistance to new approaches can hinder innovation. Instead, the ability to navigate uncertainty and find solutions is crucial.
4. Humility Over Ego:
Accepting a leadership role should be driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to something greater than oneself. Leadership success is sustained by focusing on a shared purpose and inspiring others to join the journey.
5. Market Awareness:
Leaders must be outward-focused and continuously track market trends. Making decisions that steer the company's direction requires a deep understanding of the market and learning from external interactions.
I'd love to hear what else you would add.
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Making Business Change a Success
1 个月Insightful - how many are promoted to a leadership position without undergoing basic management training. Two clear areas of understanding would be good grounding for day one on the job: Management by Objectives and Managing Tasks Through People.
Don’t forget communication and learning. Great leaders flatten hierarchy and communicate well. And we are never too senior to learn.
Senior Independent Consultant | Performance, People & Pay
1 个月Great summary of the challenges. I reflect from my time transitioning from a fee earner to a consulting leader and all these chime for me (some I was able to manage well, others were far more difficult). Knowing that I think the support I had from my independent coach was absolutely critical to enabling me to be more comfortable and find a way to be myself and (some of) what the team needed from a leader. The Leadership Effectiveness Podcast - Hosted by Kate Thomas is always a great listen!