Stepping into Leadership
You’re a new leader trying to establish yourself, set expectations and build relationships. But right now, you feel trapped on the hamster wheel of needing to get things done, without feeling like you can delegate. Your team are already at full capacity and asking them to take on more feels like a bridge too far. You’re overwhelmed by all the things that come with your new role, you are still processing how best to organize your own time let alone best utilize the time of others.
First, know that you are not alone.
What you are experiencing is all too common. In the best scenario, schools proactively put systems in place to support you, at worst, you are left to quite literally sink or swim. In rare cases, there may even be the subtle expectation of this experience being ‘part of the course’, something you are ‘expected to suffer’ as a new leader.
One common problem I see in education is that the success and attributes that got you to where you are today are not always the same skills, attributes and behaviours that will support you in your new role and in the future.
A typical string to the new leaders bow is the ability to problem solve, to be the ‘go to’ person and generally someone that gets things done (mostly because they know how to do it themselves). However, it can be difficult to shift away from the doer of all and into a role that can feel more like conducting the orchestra than playing a central role in it. To take this analogy further, when the bass is out of sync it can be tempting to just get up on stage and takeover yourself. Afterall, your ability to play so beautifully was what got you recognized and promoted in the first place. This is what Sadhguru (2014) describes as “moving from compulsiveness to consciousness”.
In these situations, you are not only creating additional strain on your own finite resources but you are also taking away ownership and accountability from your team. Taking control can feel like the right thing to do when deadlines are tight and expectations are high, but you can inadvertently end up carrying the weight by yourself.
Here are my 5 top tips for ensuring a successful first year in leadership:
Get clarity on your role (I speak to people weekly that tell me their job description looks nothing like the job they do day to day!). If you can get permission to make suggested edits or changes then do.
Bring the team together to conduct a Team Evaluation. Something as simple as a S.W.O.T analysis can be a useful starting point.
Invest in relationships. Spend time getting to really know your team. What ‘lights them up’ both professionally and personally?
Be visible. Get out of your office/away from your desk. Spend time with your team in their natural environment, not across a desk in awkward one to one meetings.
Consider, if there were no obstacles, what would you like to achieve in this role? What practices have you seen or experienced that you would like to emulate? Signal your priorities to the team and actively listen to their feedback.
Build a support network. Work with a coach or mentor to help you get clarity, gain insights and process the unique action steps that you need to take to become the leader you want to be.
Chat soon,
Claire x
Pratt Lile (2021) How Do I Create A SWOT Analysis For My Team?
Sadhguru (2014) Essential Qualities of a Good Leader in Business Today