The stakes are high when a new leader takes over. Despite their training and experience, a full 74% of new leaders say they are unprepared for the new role, and in 18 months nearly half of them disappoint or fail entirely. In many cases, leaders either judge too quickly, making snap decisions that prove to be ill advised, or wait interminably to “gather more facts,” only for the critical moment to slip away.
Why New Leaders Should Make Decisions Slowly
Focus on the first year, not the first week.
September 25, 2019
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Summary.
When starting a new leadership role, it can be tempting to start making your mark right away and to make some quick decisions. But to build trust, it’s important to learn first and act second. Talk to a wide variety of people. When you don’t yet know who’s a reliable source of information, it’s easy to be overly influenced by one person’s or one group’s interpretation of events. It’s also helpful to select one area of focus for the next year. It’s dangerous to move too quickly in a new role, but it’s perilous to appear as if you’re not making any changes at all. Selecting one specific area of focus will help you evaluate progress.