New Leader Guide

The below post is by Clayton Drotsky of Growth Crew. They help a company’s rising stars become the best leaders they can be.

EOT sales involve a change of control. This often means a change of leadership (sometimes immediately, sometimes gradually).

The first 3 steps you need to take with your team

There are three key steps you need to make as a new leader.

So often we have the greatest intentions when we are new to leadership or take over a new team. We’d like nothing more than to have a high performing team, where everyone enjoys each other’s company, and everyone loves being part of the team.

We also want people to like us as their leader, so they listen to us and follow us. But often we go about this the wrong way, and it’s nobody’s fault. We have the best of intentions, but that doesn’t always get the desired results.

In the video below, Clayton shares his fascinating backstory:

But now, onto the three key steps to ensure you get off to a great start. So your team gets comfortable with you quickly, and you create an environment where people go above and beyond because they want to.

Step One – Self Mastery

It’s the most important step you’ll never master.

There are going to be a lot of thoughts going through your mind as you embark on this leadership journey. Many of those thoughts won’t serve you well, but it’s absolutely normal to have them.

• Self doubt.
• Fear of failure.
• I won’t feel needed.
• Not knowing everything.
• Wanting others to like me.
• Worrying what others think.
• No one will take me seriously.
• Scared of saying something stupid.

All these common challenges can be controlled/dampened with a learning or beginners mindset.

Be comfortable with both who and where you are. You are not going to be the world’s best leader by this afternoon, or by the end of the week. But you certainly can be an exceptional leader if you keep putting in the reps and learning as you go.

1a) Accept where you are and trust the process:

You won’t know everything. You will make mistakes. You won’t always feel as if you’re in control. That’s normal, accept it.

Your abilities, skills and proficiencies have got you to this point/position. You’ve got the skills and deserve to be where you are now.

Keeping your goals in mind. Identify what you want from leadership. What’s your “why” and tackle each challenge with your “why” in mind.

1b) Embrace the opportunity:

As a leader you have the opportunity to change people’s lives. How amazing is that! You get to inspire other people to do great things themselves.

Leadership is temporary. Meaning, those who report to you now won’t report to you forever. Make the most of your time with your team members. Ensure you have a positive impact on them.

Don’t waste it. Remember, in every interaction and in every moment you have the opportunity to make a difference or a positive impact, embrace the opportunity.

Imagine them in 20 years time. Someone who reports to you now thinking “if it wasn’t for {your name} who said this to me 20 years ago, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so grateful”.

1c) Get a good grasp on your intentions and reasons for being a leader:

Adopt a serving mentality. Think of the joy you feel when you are serving others and how what you do matters. It’s uplifting to develop those around you.

Your intentions can drive your mindset and make you bulletproof. If your intentions are to do what’s best for the team, it’s individuals and customers, you can’t lose.

When you’re comfortable with this, and comfortable in your own skin, nothing can stop you! Saying something silly or facing a difficult conversation, or asking for help, nothing can sway you. Because your intentions are to do what’s right and best for everyone. When deep down you are 100% behind your intentions, you can’t lose!

Step 2 – Making a Great Impression

It costs you nothing but a little effort to get others comfortable with you quickly.

Think of people in your own life who you love being around. I can guarantee they display some of these characteristics:

• They respect you, your time, your feelings and your views
• They listen when you talk. It makes you feel like you’re the only person on the planet when you speak to them.
• They are genuinely interested in your well-being and curious about you and what you’re up to. They don’t make the interaction about themselves.
• They celebrate your wins with you and learn with you when you lose.

Just like that, your team members will want to be around you. Be attracted to you when they feel you display similar characteristics. Again, it takes just a little bit of effort and being self-aware.

Here’s how you can make that first impression a great one.

2a) Respect everyone from the beginning:

Show consideration for people’s skills, contributions, abilities and views.

• This means you value them for who they are. For their experience, their efforts and the impact that they are making at work
• As well as considering their views and feelings

Accepting everyone on a level playing field and assuming positive intent.

• It’s about being inclusive. Treating everyone the same regardless of their background, position or personal characteristics.
• Approaching interactions assuming positive intent. Nobody wakes up in the morning and says “today I’m going to do my worst”.
• Approach with the belief that others are acting with good intentions. Don’t jump to negative conclusions about their motivations.

2b) Practice Self-Awareness:

Be mindful of your actions and behaviours. Even the little things have an impact on those around you, like:

• Not looking up from your keyboard when someone is at your desk to talk to you. Swivel your chair and face them. Imagine what impact that has.
• Don’t take your cell phone to meetings or 1:1s. It shows others where your priorities lie.

Regular reflection:

• As often as you can, reflect on your performance as a leader. You can ask yourself two questions
  – What did I do well today?
  – What could I have done better or differently?
• Regular reflection helps you grow and develop rapidly.

Remember that your team is looking to you for guidance, approval and support. Being aware of how you act or respond around your team and the impact that has, goes a long way in how comfortable your team members are around you and how drawn they are to you.

Step Three – Connect the Team

Create the environment people want to be in, and remember, as leaders we can’t do it alone.

One of the best quotes I’ve heard regarding leadership is from a leadership guru named Kevin Murray. “As leaders we can’t do it alone, so the sooner you include others in the plan, the culture and the way of doing things, the more likely you are to have success”.

It’s so true. As humans we have a primal need to belong. In fact it’s proven that we perform better when we feel part of something.

When we feel part of something we are more open, more engaging, more understanding, more willing to listen, more willing to collaborate.

As a leader, you can harness this primal need we have through inclusion and connecting the team, and here are ways you can do that:

3a) Share the Game Plan:

Make sure everyone understands what you as a team are working towards. Make that shared future or shared purpose part of everything you do as a team. Let it drive the behaviour.

Does your team understand:

• Why does the team exist?
• What does the team want to achieve?
• Why do we want to achieve that (what’s the purpose)?

If they don’t know, this is how you connect them. Through transparency and sharing the Game Plan whenever you can.

3b) Rally the team behind a common purpose:

Now that the team understands the combined purpose:

Make sure you let every individual understand how valuable they are to the team and how massive their contribution is to the success of the team.

When we feel that what we do is meaningful and matters to others, we find joy and satisfaction in that feeling. We then enjoy what we do more and look forward to doing it, which allows us to naturally excel at it too.

This is where you as a leader could receive discretionary effort. Where your team members go above and beyond because they want to, not because they have to.

3c) Connect through communication:

So much of our success as leaders depends on how often we communicate. By being transparent and allowing others in, helps us connect everyone.

As a leader you are more savvy to business related issues. Like why we use a certain system over another, why a process is done this way, or why the targets are the way they are. Use this knowledge to connect the team.

Paint a picture. When you are sharing a new task, or sharing information or news, or addressing bad behaviour, use what you know to paint a picture that connects everyone. Share the “why” behind it all.

Close loops. Don’t leave your team members guessing. Our brains are constantly collaborating social interactions and if you don’t close the loop on things, you allow your team members to wonder why. So for example, if someone comes to you with an idea, even if the idea does not align with company goals, close the loop and share why. If someone did not get the position they wanted, share why. Don’t leave them wondering why, which breaks trust and they slowly disengage from you.

Worksheet – what kind of leader are you?

After reading the above, hopefully you’ve got a real flavour of what’s important in ensuring your team are with you. But what kind of leader do you see yourself as? What benefits/disadvantages does that cause?

Clayton’s built a short worksheet to help you think this through, and come out with a useful takeaway.

Worksheet link above, video tutorial below:

Found the above useful, but want to discuss it further? Click the button below!

Summary

Don’t overthink leadership, it’s a lot simpler than it may look to you right now. If you
have imposter emotions that’s a good thing. It means you care and want to do well. Use
those emotions to your benefit.

Stick to the basics within the three steps. Shift your mindset. Make a good impression, and create a collaborative environment.

---

If you are interested in finding out more about transitioning to an EOT, get in touch with us at Go EO to see how we can help.