Manager To Leader? Tips For A Smooth Transition
Read time: 2 min
Big Idea
To transition from management into leadership, focus on challenges, mindset shifts, recognition and feedback, mentorship, and the underrated skill of listening; emphasize the importance of clear purpose, selflessness, and effective communication.
Top Thoughts
According to Peter Drucker: “management is doing things right, while leadership is doing the right things”—a subtle shift in focus.
Manager-to-leader transition challenges include mindset shifts, such as addressing ‘people problems’ more actively and putting out fires while maintaining a work-life balance. Leaders must have purpose and ambition to understand personal motivations.
Leadership requires thinking broadly about opportunities and the organization's needs, necessitating courage, risk-taking, and accountability for outcomes.
Effective leaders are selfless, prioritizing the needs of the team and the organization, focusing on coaching and skill development to drive success beyond titles and financial rewards.
Communication and recognition are essential to fostering a culture of appreciation and improvement. Provide specific, meaningful feedback and recognition for contributions. Strategies for delivering feedback include immediate, direct communication, emphasizing a shared goal of success, and avoiding letting issues accumulate.
Approach mentorship and development with clear goals, seeking advice on specific questions, acting on advice, and creating an environment conducive to constructive feedback.
Despite clear distinctions between managerial and leadership roles, there can be overlap, with some managers being good at inspiring vision and some leaders ensuring day-to-day tasks are managed effectively.
Quick Quotes
"The biggest challenge for people who make the leap to leadership roles is the mindset shift they’re required to make... Doing that requires courage, and a willingness to take bets and own the consequences if things go wrong."
"People can get enticed by a bigger title and the financial rewards that come with it rather than pausing and asking themselves if they really want to do the work that the job entails."
“You set the tone and direction as the leader, and all the signals you send—verbal and nonverbal—will carry an outsized impact. But the role isn’t about you."
"As a leader, you’re dealing with a lot of people problems and you’re putting out a lot of fires. Because it’s hard to get work done at work, you’re often facing a three-shift day and the work will bleed into weekends."
"Leaders who are more selfless think first about the people they are leading and the organization... coaching people to unlock and develop their skills."
"Another type of recognition is about the 'who'—telling someone why it’s important that they are on the team and what they bring to the table."
"Better to give feedback in the moment and be direct, so that people become more used to it, and less defensive."
"You won’t find any courses on listening in MBA programs, and yet it’s an essential skill for effective leadership... you need to listen carefully—and know how to draw people out for their best thinking—to illuminate any blind spots you may have."
Actionable Advice
Embrace a mindset shift - Understand the distinct mindset shift required for leadership roles, which involve broader perspectives, courage to take calculated risks, and accountability for outcomes beyond individual tasks.
Prioritize effective communication - Implement immediate and direct feedback delivery, focusing on specific contributions and their impact. Foster a culture of recognition and improvement, where recognition is meaningful and tailored to individual achievements.
Source
Duncan, R.D. (2023, Aug 22). Manager To Leader? Tips For A Smooth Transition. [Web article]. Forbes. (Link)
Bryant, A. (2023). Leap to leadership [E-book version]. Harvard Business Review Press. (Link)
