The great migration of sports coaches – and a few athletes – has begun. Business leaders are finding themselves in new roles, possibly with new companies.
If you’ve decided to leave for a new location, or been given a surprise opportunity to search for a new location, there are some keys to starting well.
Maybe you’re not moving…these will grow your leadership where you are:
(1) How much change shoudl you make and how quickly? There are two schools of thoughts. One says to establish that you are in charge, so make some changes immediately. The other says to start slow, begin where the poeple are, and move from there. You wil lbe a change form the person you are replacing, bringing enough change with you just by being you. Personality, processes, voice, tone, looks; perhaps you are a morning person and the other person was not. You drink coffee, the other drank tea.
I encourage new leaders to be up front that changes will be made but not immediately. Because one of the great dangers of not making any changes is that your boss, your team members, could conclude that you like everything the way it is.
(2) Ask questions and listen. Answer questions honestly, but take the initiative to ask questions. This is a real art. Keep them short and open eneded. Meet with people and let them know they are heard. Ask for advice. The point is genuine concern for them as poeple, but that doesn’t mean you have to do everything they mention. People want to be heard, to understand that they matter. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
(3) Share and answer. I do a training with business leaders, that translates to a sports coach in a new position as well. The training ends with some back and forth between the new leader and new team. The team gets to ask 10 personal questions (favorite food, tell us about your family, why did you decide on this career,…) and 10 business questions (what are your processes, how do you define success,…). You answer them.
Then share 3 expectaions for how the team will work, and 3 expectations for communication (i.e., when something comes up, tell me immediately through text or don’t text after 9 p.m.). These are your ground rules that will help shape your relationships and leadership.
Taking time to do this will solve many issues before they begin.
Good luck with your journey ahead. I look forward to connecting with you.
Jeffery A. Raker, Level Up Leadership Coaching