Making the Transition to a Formal Leadership Role
We recently asked a group of aspiring organizational leaders the following question…
What do you see as being one of the greatest challenges you face as a leader?
The Challenges:
- Understanding, appreciating and connecting with different generations within the organization.
- Keeping up with constant change.
- Balancing everyone’s health and doing the right thing.
- Keeping a healthy work-life balance.
- Addressing racial tensions when sensitivity and emotions are high.
- Prioritizing where to put my heart energy when there are so many needs right now.
The Common Theme:
We identified a common thread that is woven through all of these challenges — human relationships and inter-relationships.
It’s the balance of addressing our needs while knowing, understanding and meeting the unique needs of others.
Is this common thread also true for the greatest challenge that YOU identify with?
The Conductor & the Orchestra
The transition from employee to formal leadership is a shift from completing tasks and assignments — to building and maintaining relationships with/among others on your team.
Consider the conductor of an orchestra. Their task is to be a master communicator who holds the vision for the overall group.
He or she is responsible for bringing the best out of each musician in concert with everyone else AND to create something that transcends the individual contributions of each musician. Together they are greater than the sum of their parts.
Addressing Leadership Challenges as the Conductor
How you and others communicate needs to be intentional! Take care in use of words and delivery of messages.
Just as an orchestra sounds best when in tune with one another, so your team need a leader who is self-aware, practices deep listening, and pays attention to each team member.
Know when to lead – and when to create space for others to lead. As the conductor, your team looks to you to unite everyone in a shared vision, pursuit or goal.
Servant Leadership behaviors you can adopt!
- Collaboration and shared leadership
- Listening
- Advocating for others
- Use of compassion and empathy
- Practicing self-compassion and empathy for yourself
- Affirm other people’s concerns (ask what challenges other people are living in)
- Incorporate humor and play into work
- Practice humility and transparency
- Be positive (you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it)
- Identify other servant-leaders, mentors and coaches to be your learning partners
Use this worksheet to go from Servant Follower to Servant Leader:
Transition to Formal Leadership
Ponder, share, or journal these reflection questions:
- What can you start doing today to be a better leader when facing today’s challenges?
- How can you support other aspiring leaders as they start their leadership journey?
