Assuming a leadership role can be an exciting and pivotal moment in your career. That said, it can also be tricky to navigate this high-pressure position. It’s not easy to lead an organization, from the countless video conferences and time-sensitive emails to making uncomfortable calls that your team may not always agree with or like. Here are four tips that can arm new leaders with the skill set and knowledge base to assume this role proficiently.
Master the Skill of Delegating
Delegating tasks to the right people takes time and practice. As a leader, you need to learn how to trust your employees and who best fits a specific task or project. That means understanding each employee’s strengths and weaknesses.
Let Your Core Values Shine
Successful leaders are able to manage their responsibilities and make critical decisions using their core values and beliefs. Start by identifying your main purpose in life and what values are most important to you, whether it’s cultivating a healthy business culture, establishing a well-respected brand, or innovating within your respective industry. Afterward, communicate them clearly with your executive actions so that people can anticipate what direction you are taking in both the short- and long-term.
Think in Broader Terms
Unlike an employee who decides to call in sick and miss a meeting without much repercussion, every business decision you make likely has a larger impact than what you expect it to have. Before you make a decision, think about the implications of your decision and how they reverberate across the company and industry. Systematic thinking on a much wider scale is not something that most professionals get to exercise at their entry-level position. Once you assume command, aim to shift your mindset from micro to macro focus.
Have a Growth Mindset
Cultivating a growth mindset is not just advantageous for leaders; it’s a mindset that can help improve your personal and professional life, regardless of what stage or circumstance you’re in. From a leadership perspective, a growth mindset means that you are comfortable admitting not knowing certain things and are open to learning them.
Leaders aren’t born overnight. Don’t feel the need to learn and master everything in a short period of time. Instead, use your strengths to lead and fill in the gaps along the way.