We all have had a falling out with our managers or someone in a leadership position at our workplace, at some point in time. It is difficult to understand their actions at most times. Being a leader is a tough job. One can only truly understand that when they themselves take on a leadership role.
If you are someone who has become a leader for the first time, these tips will help you transition smoothly into your new managerial or leadership role
Find a mentor
Initially, you are going to need a lot of help from someone who has been a leader for a long time. Your mentor can either be some manager of another department or someone who was holding your position before you. They will help you deal with situations wisely, provide you with necessary tips, and alert you on cases you should be knowing, and the things you should be careful of.
Acknowledge changed relationships
The hardest part of being a manager or leader is that you will take on a higher position than your colleagues with whom you once worked under a common leader. These colleagues can be your friends as well who now will be reporting to you. You must accept this change gracefully. It is crucial to strike a balance. You must know how much to share with your colleagues and which piece of information to hold back. While personal judgement and bias are natural to come in the way, especially when taking an important decision, being fair is key. You must be clear in communicating what you truly feel by putting it the right way. It can be something like, “I value our friendship but, as a manager, I need the team to trust me and see me as fair and consistent.”
Offer and ask for feedback
Every employee requires feedback from their manager. Make sure you provide constructive feedback from time to time to each of your team members. This way you will give your team the chance to improve their performance and grow professionally. You must also ask for constructive feedback from your team so that you can identify and work on improving your leadership skills. Doing so will help in building trust. It will show your employees that you value their input.
Learn to listen
Listening skills are difficult to master. When you become a leader, it is important to listen to your employees. If your team members come to you individually with a problem, make an effort to actively listen. Try to understand their perspective to get to the roots of the issue. Take the necessary steps. Make them feel heard.
Build a good rapport with all your team members
If you are new in the company, getting to know your team members and building a strong rapport is crucial for the benefit of the company. Building a rapport does take time, but once you start having regular one on ones with each one in your team, you start to know them better and observe their work patterns, strengths and weaknesses. You ease them into having free conversations with you. This will help you delegate responsibilities better and enhance the quality of teamwork.
Working in a leadership capacity can become overwhelming when it’s your first time. With these friendly tips, you won’t find yourself completely lost as how to what your first steps should be in the journey of becoming a successful leader.
