Being great at your job doesn't automatically mean you'll know how to lead people. Yet organizations promote talented employees into management positions every day and expect them to suddenly know how to delegate, motivate employees, navigate difficult conversations, and build strong teams. Leadership is a completely different skill set.
On the Build Better Teams podcast, I spoke with leadership development coach and Lightspark Leadership founder Risa Seelenfreund about the skills new managers need to become effective leaders.
From Employee to Leader: The Skills Every New Manager Needs to Build a Stronger Team
Someone can be an exceptional accountant, marketer, salesperson, or operations professional without knowing how to lead a team.
As Risa explained, promoting someone into management without giving them leadership development and support can set both the new manager and their employees up for frustration. Two skills she sees new managers struggle with frequently are delegation and empathy.
Employees want to feel like their manager sees them as a person, not simply someone paid to complete a task. That doesn't mean eliminating expectations or accountability. Leaders can hold employees accountable while also listening, showing flexibility when appropriate, and understanding what someone may be experiencing.
Strong relationships create trust, and trust can improve employee engagement and retention.
Why New Managers Need Leadership Development
Ready to build a better team? Let's connect.
Delegation Is More Than Handing Off Work
Great Leadership Starts With Self-Awareness
- What are your strengths?
- Where do you need development?
- What leadership behaviors come naturally to you, and which require more effort?
Leadership assessments, coaching, and tools like DISC can help managers better understand their own working styles and those of their employees. Understanding those differences can also help teams stop viewing different approaches as problems and start recognizing them as strengths.
Strong Leaders Want Their Teams to Grow
When you help employees learn, grow, and use their strengths, you aren't diminishing your role as a leader. You're building a stronger team.
Through Build Better Teams Consulting, I help organizations strengthen leadership, communication, collaboration, and employee engagement through interactive team-building workshops, leadership retreats, strategic planning facilitation, and LEGO® Serious Play® experiences.
If your organization is ready to invest in its people and build stronger leaders and teams, let's connect.
Connect with Risa Seelenfreund:
http://lightsparkleadership.com/