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As I left a recent coaching session unsure of how the young emerging leader was actually navigating her new position, many questions began to swirl through my mind.

What would success look like for a new leader?

Is this leader doing all she can do to make a great first impression?

Are there specific skills necessary for all new leaders?

On one hand she seemed to think things were going well with her co-workers but there appeared to be issues with her boss. She was being asked to master new skills at a quicker pace but not given the time to learn them adequately. Anxiety set in coupled with a lack of confidence.

Have you ever felt this way? With our constant moving in and out of different positions throughout our careers, we often face a new leader experience. Both emerging and seasoned leaders deal with similar challenges with each new role we take on.

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We know that it takes many bricks to build a foundation for a new job responsibility. Here are five bricks to help support your leadership:

1. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions

During the coaching session it became clear that the new leader was fearful of asking questions. She did not want her supervisor or her co-workers to think she was unable to perform the required tasks. Instead of feeling paralyzed when we are in a new job situation, we need to be honest about our abilities and then decide who would be the best teacher to learn from.

2. Put The Time In

Many of us have limited time during our day in our job and that may mean devoting some time outside of work to learn new procedures and programs. Although we may not want to “cut into” our personal time, it may be necessary and well worth the investment of our time.

3. Develop A Growth Mindset

According to psychologist Carol Dweck, we each need to foster a “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and to solve problems. In her renowned TED talk she shares a concept called, “The Power of Yet”, where she differentiates not possessing the ability to accomplish something versus not mastering it just yet.

When we are in a new job, we need to motivate ourselves to learn the new skills to grow ourselves in our careers. This is what the coachee needs to do to successfully overcome her new challenges.

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4. Cultivate A Network

Identifying a group of people we can count on that we both work with or connect with is essential for all emerging leaders. Think of these people as an advisory board that you can turn to for honest feedback and guidance. They must have your best interests in mind. Set up regular times to meet with them and be open to their suggestions.

5. Let Your Boss See Your Efforts

Whatever task we decide to tackle it is always a great idea to keep our bosses in the loop. That way we are sharing our hard work as well as how we are mastering our new responsibilities.

What other bricks would you add to support your leadership growth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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