When did you first need to lead people in your career? How did you feel? What challenges did you encounter?
My first experience as a team leader dates back to my first job at ACNielsen, where I was promoted with leading a group of researchers and supervisors who were significantly older and more experienced than I was. On one hand, it was immensely satisfying to step into a management role. However, I also felt a considerable amount of anxiety, given my lack of experience in managing and leading people who had been in the field much longer than I had.
Reflecting on my early challenges, I realized that many newly promoted leaders face similar hurdles. Recognizing these common struggles has driven my passion for helping others succeed in their leadership journeys. Over the years, there has been training requests to help newly promoted managers transition into managerial roles. After gathering feedback from over a thousand first-time leaders, we identified the top 10 challenges they face during this transition (see attached visual)
The most prominent challenge, as reported, is dealing with different types of team members, particularly when it comes to navigating the complexities of varied personalities and generational differences. What have you observed in your own experience?
In our recent “Leading for Success” program, my working partner, Christopher, and I supported newly promoted managers from a local university. Our goal was to equip them with the right mindset, skills, and tools to lead others effectively. The program was comprehensive, incorporating theories, practical exercises, case studies, role-playing, and skills practice.
The key to successful leadership is not just in understanding these challenges but in continuously developing and adapting one's approach. The leadership journey will have its ups and downs, moments of joy and worry, but the important thing is to keep learning.
Shared by our Principal Consultant, Mr Matchy Ma
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