Category Archives: Advice for New Leaders
To Lead or Not to Lead? A Skilled Project Manager Weighs In
Our complex, fast-moving business world relies heavily on project management to tackle major bodies of work. In tech firms, many leaders are specifically titled as project managers – and this title is rapidly expanding to other market sectors. The Project Management Institute *estimates that among seven specified US industries the number of these roles will […]
Continue readingWhy Do We Perpetuate the Myth of New Leader “Fit”?
We frequently hear clients talk about how they want Newly-placed Leaders to "fit" their organizational culture. And if those same New Leaders who originally were seen as the best choice later derail, it is often then attributed to a "poor fit." But, rather than using "fit" as a throwaway explanation for derailment, doesn't it make […]
Continue readingUntil Success Do We Part: How to Decide If a Project Management Role is For You
By Mauro Piloni If you work as a project manager (or were recently offered a role), you were probably pulled aside by management and informed that a long-term initiative was in the works. This project requires the most important ingredient – the right leader – and that frontrunner is you. What comes to mind when hearing […]
Continue readingStarting the Journey: A New Project Manager’s Guide to Implementation
By Mauro Piloni If you read my previous post, you may have already passed through the checkpoints I recommended, and you have the answers you need to accept your project management opportunity.Now you are a project leader - congratulations!You agreed to take the role because you confirmed that you are the most skilled person to lead […]
Continue readingCulture Makes or Breaks New Leaders
Many in the business community agree that a leader’s success (or even survival) in a role depends on their ability to work within the operational culture. And for those transitioning into new roles, culture lies at the root of many onboarding paradoxes. New Leaders are often hired to make changes, fix broken things, “take us […]
Continue readingNew to Your Job? Don’t Let Your Rival(s) Drag You Under
Whether you are a New Leader hired in from the outside or elevated to a role, there’s a good chance you will work with someone who is unhappy with your presence. We call these people rivals, and they are important to your success. Regardless of their feelings toward you, remember – they hold key historical, […]
Continue readingThe OnBoarding Paradox: How New Leaders Prevail
When starting a new role, leaders often don’t realize that they will face what we call “the onboarding paradox” during their transition. New Leaders who fail to recognize and reconcile the gaps between explicit and implicit expectations for their navigation and performance allow the stage to be set for their own future derailment. In our […]
Continue readingThe Credibility Trap
Popular onboarding literature urges New Leaders to make their mark quickly, with impact, and gain credibility by generating immediate results. On the face of it, this approach resonates with many who are in the onboarding process. They want their employer to see them as an asset, and they are eager to demonstrate their value. However, […]
Continue readingDon’t Forget to Add Relationships to Your “To Do” List
New Leaders (understandably) feel pressure to perform almost immediately upon starting their new roles. What they often overlook is the impact that building relationships early in their tenure will have on their long-term success. In over 15 years of leader onboarding work, we have found that New Leader success comes down to a very simple equation: Relationships x […]
Continue readingManaging Change: How to Include the Team and Gain Support
The world around us is rapidly changing, and in reality, businesses that don't adapt won’t survive. One common response to the frenetic pace of change is for organizations to hire New Leaders from the outside, expecting them to make massive alterations to their teams, operations, and organizational outcomes. Sometimes these organizations provide New Leaders with specific […]
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