Client Question: “I have been a leader of a team for about 6 months. I feel like I am doing okay at it, but I know I am still acting like a doer instead of a leader. What should I be doing differently?”
You are not alone in struggling with this transition. It happened to me and to many others who have taken the leadership path. You jump right in and start doing things just like you always have. You are so good at doing things that it becomes difficult to let go and let others do them. They will most likely do things differently than you would, but as long as it gets to the same end result, does it matter how it was done? What we are really talking about is shifting your mindset away from you doing things and towards delegating to your team. They need the experiences that you have already gained in your career so far. If you know how to do something, then it is your responsibility as a leader to teach someone else how to do it.
I know that this is far easier said than done. It is a process of learning who you are as a leader and how you want to lead. Stepping back and thinking about this is really an important step, so that you can begin acting like the leader you want to be. Here are a few resources and tips to help you:
- In a previous post called 6 leadership lessons for a new leader, I captured some of the things that helped me when I first started as a leader. There are a few other links in this post that will also help you.
- A book that was really helpful to me at this stage was What got you here, won’t get you there by Marshall Goldsmith. It helped me start to think differently about what I now needed to do as a leader.
- Be patient. This transition does not happen overnight and it is not easy. You are going to learn a lot about yourself throughout the process. You will try things to see what works or doesn’t work and make adjustments. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone and at times wonder what to do next. That is okay and very normal. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are learning how to be a great leader and that takes some time.
- Find a mentor or a coach. I actually had both along the way and they were invaluable resources to me. I had to learn that it is okay to ask for help. It is a sign of strength, not weakness. Mentors can provide invaluable advice about their own experiences and will be able to help you with the politics in your organization. Coaches can help you move from where you are as a leader to where you want to be. They will help you focus on your own development which is so important for you as a leader and also for your team.