3 Useful Tips to Managing Former Peers
Friday 21 January 2022
“When you occupy a position of leadership, a whisper becomes a shout,” says Simon Sinek, best-selling author of The Infinite Game. This rings true for many newly appointed managers who face the challenge of leading former comrades. Here are three steps to strike a healthy balance between trust and credibility in our new roles.
First and foremost, it is crucial to recognise that you have earned a leadership position and own what it takes to be a high-performing and driven manager. Any lingering self-doubt may hold you back and inhibit your ability to make quick and sound decisions. Here are 3 ways to help you defeat the impostor syndrome and kick analysis paralysis to the curb.
The second step is to grasp the fundamentals of your scope of work and how it differs from your former peers. This will help in delegating and training the right people for the appropriate tasks to achieve the best workflows. Leadership expert Dr. Kammy Haynes explains that “assuming there are 250 hours in an average working year… even if we need to spend 10 hours training the right person to do it, we’ve just gained 240 hours for the year.” Here are 9 proven tips to help first-time managers delegate more effectively.
The third step is acknowledging that there is no one way to lead. Each team and circumstance require a different combination of skills, strategy and style. An excellent way to identify the needs of your team is to ask those who have extensive experience in leading and managing others. Here are 8 qualities to look for to find a good mentor.