Transitioning into Leadership

⚠️ 4 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬

I remember how excited and nervous I was in the first few months of my first leadership role. As you step into your next leadership role, it's important to avoid common pitfalls that can hinder your impact in the first 90 days. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, David Lancefield identifies four key traps leaders can fall into and offers practical strategies to successfully navigate around them.

Here are some of the key points I took from the article:

1️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: Leaders sometimes find it difficult to fully detach from their previous role, slowing their start in the new one.
💡 Set clear boundaries with your manager regarding your involvement in successor onboarding and handover responsibilities.
💡 Decline additional requests from your previous role, helping you focus on your new role without being pulled back into former duties.

2️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: Holding on to the fast pace and intensity of your leadership journey can prevent you from taking the time to recharge before your next challenge.
💡 Conduct a mental and physical well-being check to assess resilience and identify any necessary lifestyle changes (how will you adapt physically and emotionally in the new role).
💡 Reflect on your emotions and connect with others who have experienced similar transitions to gain perspective and support.

3️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: Entering a new role with preconceived assumptions or biases can limit your ability to see important details and diverse perspectives.
💡 Prepare questions to ask key stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of the organization's current state (listen more, talk less).
💡 Make decisions based on evidence and not assumptions. Use data to guide your strategy.

4️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐦𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: Relying too heavily on a specific leadership style may not align with the unique needs of your new organization.
💡 Determine key challenges and opportunities and explore various paths to achieve your goals. 
💡 Design a strategy that plays on your and your team's strengths while allowing for innovation and adaptation.

hashtag#Transitions are a powerful opportunity to redefine your leadership journey. By approaching them with the right mindset and strategies, you can set yourself up for lasting success. 

Looking back on my leadership transitions, there were times when I fell into the “adrenaline trap”: full of energy and ideas, when I could have been less intense, listened more and prioritized key objectives in my first 30/60/90 days.

What are your learnings from your leadership transitions?