Recently I came across a person who took a leadership role. He hit the ground from day 1 and pushed everybody to perform beyond the boundaries. Great results. Means is justified. I was little confused. I remembered my first boss.
He said, “If you are travelling by train and if you run in the train, you are not going to reach the destination any sooner”. I didn’t understand at that time. I do very well now.
I started wondering what people do when they take up a leadership role. I started researching.
I looked at several leadership styles. Some articles talked about best 4 styles, 7 styles and 9 styles. They are all good. If followed, I am sure they deliver results.
I wanted to know exactly what leaders do in the first 30 days. As for me, I would not do anything other than talking to people.
I googled.
“What leaders do in the first few weeks at work”
Here are results. I pasted links to take a look at the actual article.
Harvard Business Review
Link: https://hbr.org/2014/09/what-new-team-leaders-should-do-first?registration=success
The first few weeks are critical. “People form opinions pretty quickly, and these opinions tend to be sticky,” says Michael Watkins, the cofounder of Genesis Advisers and author of the updated The First 90 Days.”
- Get to know each other.
- Show what you stand for
- Explain how you want the team to work
- Set or Clarify goals
- Keep your door open
- Score an “early win”
There are also Do’s and Don’ts in this article.
U.S.News
Link: https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-have-a-great-first-week-as-a-new-boss
To have a great first week as a new boss:
- Learn how to build self-confidence.
- Prioritize setting boundaries at work.
- Build strong work relationships.
- Be observant.
7 tips all new managers should do within their first 30 days.
1. Start dressing like a leader
2. Develop professional relationships with your staff, not friendships
3. Stay visible
4. Clarify expectations with your boss
5. Set expectations and establish group norms with your team
6. Schedule time away from work for your friends and family
7. Learn, learn and learn some more
Association for Talent Development
Link: https://www.td.org/insights/10-things-that-great-talent-leaders-do-on-their-first-day
10 things great leaders do.
- Bring Enthusiasm
- Show Up Prepared
- Put Relationships Before Tasks
- Make Expectations Obvious
- Make Communication Two-Way
- Share the Team Vision
- Set Communication Norms
- Ideate Intelligently
- Close With Actions and Next Steps
10. Remember the “Thank You”
CRESTCOM
Link: https://crestcom.com/blog/2020/02/19/new-manager-first-week/
“According to Princeton researchers, people decide your trustworthiness in a tenth of a second. “
- Introduce yourself to your team, department, and other key colleagues
- Ask to be an observer in meetings
- Identify needed training for key tasks, processes, and responsibilities
- Set up one-on-one meetings with direct reports.
- Show your team you value their voice off the bat by creating a fresh-perspective list.
FastCompany
Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/3050664/3-things-every-new-leader-should-do-their-first-week-on-the-job
3 things that new leader should in the first one week.
- Introduce yourself to strangers
- Remember names
- Ask questions
U.S.News
Link: https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/articles/how-to-have-a-great-first-week-as-a-new-boss
To have a great first week as a new boss:
- Learn how to build self-confidence.
- Prioritize setting boundaries at work.
- Build strong work relationships.
- Be observant.
Know your Team
What to do(and not do)
- Go on a “Listen and Learn Tour”.
- Ask specific questions to each team member, one-on-one.
- Interview fellow leaders in similar positions in the company.
- Say, “I don’t know” if you don’t know.
- Sit on your hands.
- If you must act, go after the small wins first.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
There’s one common thing in all the above articles that is nobody advised “Hit the ground immediately”. I do not know how above things worked and what kind of results came out of it. Pushing people works in the short term but kills the spirit.
Nevertheless, first one week is crucial for a new leader. There are a bunch of articles and books for leaders to educate themselves on the tasks ahead.
