Mastering Leadership Transitions: Essential Guide for Newly Promoted and Emerging Leaders

Transition plans outline the processes for incoming and outgoing leaders alike.

 
Do you have plans in place for when you receive a promotion, or if you become the leader of emerging leaders?

Specifically, how does the transition occur? Who is actively involved? What’s the process? What’s the timing of events?

 
If you’re a newly promoted leader, it’s essential to know:
  • Your new roles/responsibilities
  • Your individual goals
  • The goals of the department
  • How goals are tracked
  • How individuals (and the team) are measured
  • Team strengths and needs
  • Are there any existing challenges to be addressed
  • Do you need to “up” or acquire any new skills
  • Would a mentor be beneficial
  • Are you the decision maker for your budget? If not, who is?
  • And, ask your team members for their perspective about:
          Team strengths
          Opportunities for growth or process changes
          What they appreciate most in a leader
          Where the team requires the most over-sight        

Note: Asking these questions provides you with an opportunity for one-on-one time and will help you build relationships.  It also lets the team know you’re willing to listen, and that you care about what they think.

If you’re the leader of an emerging leader, provide:
  • Role expectations
  • Individual and team goals
  • Known challenges ex. Goals, vendors, internal or external customers
  • Reward and measurement processes
  • Budget responsibilities

We also suggest conducting weekly update meetings; keep them brief but be available to assist with the transition, and jointly create a development plan.  

Leadership is about “taking others where they’ve never gone before and would not go on their own” – having transition plans in place are invaluable!

Are you prepared?
 
Sincerely,

Mike and Jan

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,
do more and become more, you are a leader.
—John Quincy Adams

 

PeopleTek Coaching – Pioneering a path to leadership and team excellence. We offer tailored coaching programs leveraging our vast industry experience, aiding individuals and businesses to unearth their true potential. Our innovative approach transforms leadership behaviors, cultivates cohesive teams, and drives organizational success. With a track record spanning more than 20 years, PeopleTek’s mission is to inspire personal and professional growth for a productive, harmonious workplace. To learn more about us and how we can empower your leadership journey, visit www.PeopleTekCoaching.com.

Redefining Leadership with LIVE: Lead, Inspire, Provide Value, and Empathize

Be alive; be capable of vital functions.
–Dictionary.com

 
How often do you reflect on your leadership style and your ability to inspire and influence others? Are you “capable of vital functions” as defined by dictionary.com?

Amy Somerville, a professional development executive and seasoned leader (and current CEO of Success Enterprises) shares what LIVE means to her:

LIVE = Lead, Inspire, provide Value, and Empathize

Lead – When leading, or being effectively led, a vision will be realized along with a sense of satisfaction

Inspire – When inspiring others, or being inspired, there’s a feeling of wholeness

Value – There’s a sense of fulfillment when one feels valued

Empathy – Provides a sense of purpose to both the giver and receiver

She keeps this acronym posted in her office (and has for years) and uses it to help maintain her focus. Ms. Somerville regularly assesses whether she is adhering to what the acronym stands for, and if she goes off course, she makes the time to adjust to whatever challenge she may be facing.

Regarding the acronym, it’s fair to say that “Leading” is a given when in a leadership role, but how do you view the need to Inspire, provide Value, and Empathize as described by Ms. Somerville?

She also shares that leaders must:

  • Help those they are leading achieve more than themself
  • Care about the aspirations of all team members
  • Provide team members with everything they need to be successful
  • Commit to developing others
  • Promote their people
  • Be authentic

Do you find the LIVE acronym helpful, and do you agree with these leadership “musts”? Are there any you disagree with or perhaps have a desire to further develop? Let us know.
 
Sincerely,
Mike and Jan

Every time you influence other people to do a better job, you increase your value; Don’t be afraid to share best practices.

—Amy Sommerville

 

PeopleTek Coaching – Pioneering a path to leadership and team excellence. We offer tailored coaching programs leveraging our vast industry experience, aiding individuals and businesses to unearth their true potential. Our innovative approach transforms leadership behaviors, cultivates cohesive teams, and drives organizational success. With a track record spanning more than 20 years, PeopleTek’s mission is to inspire personal and professional growth for a productive, harmonious workplace. To learn more about us and how we can empower your leadership journey, visit www.PeopleTekCoaching.com.

Boosting Team Dynamics: The Power and Fun of Incorporating Ice Breakers into Your Meetings

Make The Time To Break The Ice.

How often (if ever) do you incorporate ice breakers into your meetings? Last week we talked about the Johari Window and the desire to expand our open pane. Ice breakers are a great way to do that in a non-threatening and fun way. The benefits include:

  • Increase awareness levels   
  • Build relationships
  • Strengthen team dynamics
  • Up energy levels
  • Personalize the work culture

The list above all lend themselves to creating an environment of trust, which we know is the foundation for successful teams. Ice-breakers don’t need to be long to be effective. You can find hundreds of ideas online but here are a few we like:

Two Truths and a Lie
Group members take turns sharing 3 things about themselves. Two of the facts are true and one is a lie. Everyone else must vote on which they think is false.

Most Unique Travel Experience
Each person shares what they view as their most unique travel destination, or a memorable travel experience.

Family Size
Each person shares how many siblings they grew up with and how that number impacted them.

Rest, Relax, Re-energize Time
Each person shares if they prefer mountains, lakes/oceans, hot or cold temperatures, and why.

Taking the time to personalize your work culture will build camaraderie, open lines of communication, and of course expand our “open pane”.  

Let us know about your ice-breakers!
 
Sincerely,
Mike and Jan

An ice-breaker serves to relieve inhibitions or tension between people,
or start a conversation.
–Oxford Dictionary

PeopleTek Coaching – Pioneering a path to leadership and team excellence. We offer tailored coaching programs leveraging our vast industry experience, aiding individuals and businesses to unearth their true potential. Our innovative approach transforms leadership behaviors, cultivates cohesive teams, and drives organizational success. With a track record spanning more than 20 years, PeopleTek’s mission is to inspire personal and professional growth for a productive, harmonious workplace. To learn more about us and how we can empower your leadership journey, visit www.PeopleTekCoaching.com.