One of the most exciting and — sometimes anxiety-producing transitions in a career — comes when you move from being an individual contributor to becoming a manager. At this juncture, what you think, what you say, and how you show up — in effect, your leadership presence — can have a direct impact on those you are now leading and managing for the first time. So, as a new manager, how do you build an authentic and connected leadership presence that has a positive impact on your team and colleagues?
How New Managers Can Send the Right Leadership Signals
One of the most exciting and — sometimes anxiety-producing transitions in a career — comes when you move from being an individual contributor to becoming a manager. At this juncture, your leadership presence can have a direct impact on those you are now leading and managing for the first time. So, how do you build an authentic and connected leadership presence that has a positive impact on your team and colleagues? Spend time considering the kind of leader you are and hope to be. As your job shifts to getting more work done through others, recognize that what motivates or influences you may not be how others are motivated or influenced. Be clear and direct with your team, always with respect. And bring a stable and grounded presence in the face of change, stress, or difficult news, which increases the likelihood that your team will feel comfortable bringing you important information, even if it’s bad news, so that you can help to remove obstacles, reset priorities, or get the team back on track.