By Guy Harris Most new, front-line leaders have a history of being excellent individual performers. They are good at what they do, and, as a result, they get the opportunity to move into leadership. It makes sense in so many ways, and that common path to leadership can also create a challenge. The challenge comes when front-line leaders continue to act like individuals on … [Read more...]
Four Steps for Selling a Change You Don’t Like
By Guy Harris Have you ever had to sell a change to your team that “came from above” and that you did not like? If you have not yet, that day is coming. It happens for everyone in a front-line leader role. Here is how the process often looks from the front-line leader position: Someone in the organization, a customer, or a vendor has a problem or … [Read more...]
How Do I Implement a Change I Don’t Like?
By Guy Harris If it has not happened already, the day is coming when you will need to implement a change that was not your idea and that you either do not like or at least have reservations about. As a new, front-line leader, that situation is incredibly difficult. You might feel stuck between your team and “management.” You might struggle to satisfy both your desire to do … [Read more...]
What CAN You Do?
As I work with frontline leaders in our Bud to Boss workshops, I frequently hear this concern after we discuss a coaching approach, change management strategy, or communication technique: “Guy, I hear what you’re saying, and it all sounds great. I just can’t do that with my team.” It is not always verbalized the same way. It is the same basic … [Read more...]
Getting Clear on Your Relationship Building Expectations
by Guy Harris In 20 years of working to help leaders grow their skills, I have yet to meet a leader who did not understand the need to be clear about their expectations with their team. I am not saying that I have never met a leader who had challenges in this area. I am saying that all of the leaders I have worked with were at least aware of the need to set clear … [Read more...]
Coaching Leaders of Hybrid Teams
by Guy Harris Coaching team members can be challenging even when everyone is in the same place. Coaching a team with everyone working remotely introduces additional challenges. And coaching a team with some members working in the office and others working remotely (a hybrid team), introduces still more challenges. Coaching a hybrid team of leaders who also lead hybrid teams … [Read more...]
Transitioning to Your Leadership Role with a Hybrid Team
by Guy Harris The transition from individual contributor to leader calls for changes in at least three areas of your work life: your relationships, your skills, and your mindset. Managing these three transitions simultaneously is almost always a challenge, and the challenge is made even more difficult when you work with a "hybrid" work in the office/work from home … [Read more...]
Your Hybrid Team Might Have Multiple Cultures
by Guy Harris Team cultures develop for many reasons. Some factors affecting team culture include: Recent team history The style makeup of team members The type of work the team does The physical location the team is in How the leader interacts with the team as a whole How the leader interacts with individual team members How team members interact … [Read more...]
Lessons From a Lifeguard: A Drowning Man Doesn’t Care About You
Communication, conflict resolution and leadership, at times, resemble working as a lifeguard. In all these situations, you can, like a lifeguard, be in the position of approaching someone else when they are under distress because their needs are not being met. Picture a drowning man. He is flailing in the water. He is grasping at everything and everyone within reach. He has … [Read more...]
Three Questions to Ask on Your First Day as a New Leader
Many new leaders start their leadership journey with one, big question: “Where do I start?” It’s a great question with an answer that is often clouded by uncertainty, overwhelm, and, doubt. To help you sort out the answer to that question, I propose you ask three other questions on your first day as a new leader. After you answer these three questions, you can focus on the … [Read more...]