Whether you’ve recently received a promotion at your current job or have accepted a leadership position at a new company, planning ahead will help you meet the challenges of the new position. Corporate leadership entails the simultaneous management of one’s own workload while also motivating others to manage theirs. While most people in leadership positions excel in one of these areas, the person who prepares ahead of time is more likely to excel in both. Taking classes or workshops, learning from the person you’ll be replacing, and anticipating the challenges you’ll face are all good ways to start preparing to be a leader.
Signing up for a leadership course, retreat, or seminar that coaches participants in the art of leadership is one of the best ways to prepare for a leadership position. These types of courses and events are typically organized by chambers of commerce or business colleges, and they provide valuable instruction on topics like team motivation, constructive criticism, and leading by example. If you’ve never worked in a management position before, read up on some of the more practical aspects of the job, such as conducting performance reviews and resolving inter-office conflicts. Tips on good leadership practices can also be found on DVDs and, more importantly, on the Internet, where you can sign up for a variety of free corporate leadership newsletters.
If you’re taking over a leadership position that was previously held by someone else, try to learn as much as you can from that person during your training period. Ask as many questions as you can, and make arrangements to get contact information from the person who is leaving the job, even if it’s just an email address. You may find that another person’s perspective on aspects of the job is an invaluable source of information down the road. If you’re filling a newly created leadership position that has never been filled before, you should feel free to set up the processes that you believe are most appropriate for the job. You should have an idea of which processes you’d like to implement early on, whether it’s weekly staff meetings, team building exercises, or one-on-one meetings with department heads.
People preparing for positions of leadership should expect opposition from their subordinates. If you’ve been promoted and will soon be overseeing former coworkers, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself for shifts in the attitudes of those around you. Individuals who are new to an organization and are thrust into a leadership role are especially vulnerable to resentment. In any case, the best way to deal with any negative feelings others may have toward your position is to dismiss them as office politics rather than taking them personally.