6 Shifts New Leaders Must Make to Succeed
Being an Effective Boss Requires an Identity Shift
Source | www.ccl.org
Stepping into a management role for the first time isn’t just a change of task — it’s a fundamental shift of identity.
To be successful, new managers must transition from getting the work done themselves to getting the work done through others. This requires a new level of self-awareness, an additional range of skills, and a new perspective that redefines success.
Your definition of success must now include the success of others. Rather than focusing on your own performance, you need to be considering questions such as:
- How does the group or team accomplish its work?
- Are they effective as individuals?
- Do they collaborate?
- Are team members committed and engaged?
- How are individual motivations and needs connected to the work and the organization?
You may find it counterintuitive that the “script” you’ve had in your head and relied upon until now — “my skills, my talents, and my technical knowledge have led to my success” — is no longer your ticket to success as a new leader.
In fact, sticking to the same script will actually make you less effective. Here is how to be seen as an effective new manager.
How to Become An Effective Boss: Make These 6 Shifts
As a new leader, you want to become an effective boss. You can be the leader that everyone adores by “flipping your script” in the way you think and act in 6 key areas:
- Mindset: You’re leading others now, not just yourself, so gather resources on how to do this effectively.
- Relationships: You’ll want to shift from the role of “friend” to the role of “boss” when at work.
- Attitude: You’ll need to delegate the work and not try to do it all anymore.
- Perspective: You’ll want to be sure you’re seeing the bigger picture.
- Focus: You’ll want to focus on what’s right, not what’s easy or self-serving.
- Skillset: You’ll want to develop new skills to manage your team effectively.
1. Shift your mindset.
Now is the time to become a more versatile leader.
As a manager of others, you need to learn new ways of achieving results, because success isn’t about your individual contribution anymore. It’s about getting the best out of each direct report to meet the group’s goals. In this new role, versatility may be your best asset.
