10 BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER: Learning How to Manage Former Peers

(EXTRACTION FROM LEADERSHIP SKILLS at http://www.mindtools.com)

 

Now You're the Boss...

Becoming "the boss" can change almost everything or it can change nothing.  You’ll still be the same person but the things you say have more importance, and your former teammates look to you for answers, not just ideas.  A new boss who tries to remain "one of the guys" and more concerned about friendships than results will end up frustrating everyone.

Learn to be a leader.  Take time to learn fundamental leadership skills.  Truly great leaders have a specific blend of skills.  They also possess certain characteristics which are harder to define.  The concept of Level 5 Leadership was created by business consultant, Jim Collins.  Collin found that these Level 5 Leaders have humility; they don't seek success for their own glory.  The leaders share credit for success, and they're the first to accept blame for mistakes.

Level 5 Leaders also possess qualities found in four other levels of leadership that Collins identified, that is:

Level	Qualities	Skills
1	Highly Capable Individual	·        Make highly quality contributions ·        Possess useful levels of knowledge ·        Have talent and skills needed to do a good job
2	Contributing Team Member	·        use your knowledge and skills to help team succeed ·        work effectively, productively and successfully with other people
3	Competent Manager	·        able to organize a group effectively
4	Effective Leader	·        able to galvanize a department or organization to meet performance objectives and achieve a vision
5	Great Leader	·        have all of the abilities needed for the other four levels ·        have the unique blend of humility and will that's required for true greatness

It takes time and effort to become a Level 5 Leader.  You don't have to progress through each level in turn in order to get to Level 5.  You only need the capabilities found in each level in order to achieve Level 5 status.

STRATEGIES TO HELP GROW EMOTIONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY
Develop Humility	·        are humble people ·        ensure that you behave in a humble way ·        take responsibility for your team's efforts, even when things go wrong
Ask for Help	·        ask for help when they need it ·        learning how to ask for help is a genuine strength ·        it lets you call upon the expertise of someone stronger in an area than you
Take Responsibility	·        take responsibility for their team's mistakes or failings
Develop Discipline	·        are incredibly disciplined in their work ·        It's always important to listen to differing opinions ·        don't let fear be your driving motivator when you make, or change, a decision
Find the Right People	·        depends on the people around them ·        spend time finding the right people ·        helping the people reach their full potential
Lead with Passion	·        are passionate about what they do ·        not afraid to show it