Newly minted leaders always worry about getting it right. What I mean is that they worry about getting it right in how their teams, peers, and higher-ups look at them. That can create a sense of worry that leads to paralysis, making it harder for the new leader to make even easy decisions. The first rule the new leader should follow is this:
Get over yourself. You cannot please everyone.
Where Does Your Compass Point?
Easier said than done. As human beings, we all want to be liked. Even the callous amongst us still want to be liked. That desire to be liked can lead a new leader to become indecisive and weak.
Part of this indecision comes the newly minted leader not being ready to assume their new position. They have not thought out a plan on how their leadership will be nor do they have a vision of what they want their legacy to be as well. Instead they look at the affirmation from those around them to validate their leadership.
This causes a host of problems, as the new leader becomes a follower to the desires of those around them. Instead of forming opinion and rallying the troops behind a mission, this leader is trying to manage an ever-increasing host of interests that will tear them apart.
How Can You Avoid This Trap?
Have a plan. Build out your transition into a 30-60-90 day period. Establish easy wins within the first thirty days to build confidence in your decision-making and trust from your team. Use these early victories to build up deposits in your relationship account.
Have a vision. Know what type of leader you want to be and be remembered as when you move on. Does it align with your team and your company? If it does not, then you need to know why and make sure that you are not setting yourself up for failure. If it does, then implement it and get as many people as possible to sign on to it. HINT: The vision is not really about you, it is about them.
Have a method. Do not just make decisions from the seat of your pants without having a method to evaluate all the information you have at the time. It is okay to wait if you have the time before making a decision. As the old proverb goes, “Patience is a virtue.” This time can give you valuable information that can be useful in making a decision. Just realize that in the end, you will never have all the information at your disposal.
Be decisive. People may not like your decision, they may not agree with it, but they will respect when you make a decision. Why? It means that a stand has been taken and they can respond to it or follow it. Either way they have to do something! When leaders are indecisive it causes confusion and inaction. It essentially creates a vacuum that will either allow events or someone else to make the decision. If you have a plan, a vision, and a method for decision-making then you will not have a problem being decisive. Yes, you might bruise some egos and not make someone happy. That comes with being a leader and making decisions.
You got promoted into the position you are in for a reason: you have demonstrated the skills needed to be a leader in your organization. If you look back at your career, you made plans, you built trust, and at times you made unpopular but the right decisions. There is nothing different now in becoming a leader.
What steps would you take to avoid the leadership traps?
About the author:
Erroin A. Martin is a Business Advocate with the Von Gehr Consulting Group, LLC, a business coaching and consultancy provider for business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs. He has fifteen years experience working within the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, natural resources, medical devices, software, technology, business services, and agriculture industries in various levels of leadership across six continents. He has led diverse teams in sales, marketing, planning, and in the Army. He currently coaches business leaders and physicians in the tools needed, like social media, to plan for their success. Learn more about the Von Gehr Consulting Group, LLC at www.vongehrconsulting.com or call +1 203 433 8079. You can follow him on Twitter at @Erroin
The Von Gehr Consulting Group, LLC, was founded by Erroin A. Martin to provide business coaching, business consulting, and other services to companies both large and small. The primary goal is to have his clients be passionate about their business and reach the unachievable.
