Speaker 1: Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
Speaker 1: performance through strong human relations, team building, and goala giving.
Speaker 1: This is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host
Speaker 1: Paul Fello Aledo.
Speaker 2: Hello everyone, and welcome to the seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
Speaker 2: It's episode two forty six. Today we're talking about a
Speaker 2: pivotal moment for new leaders, and that's stepping into your
Speaker 2: first leadership role and navigating your first ninety days. Whether
Speaker 2: you've just been promoted to a supervisor, manager or a
Speaker 2: leadership position, you might be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, excitement, doubt, pressure,
Speaker 2: and maybe even a little fear. That's completely normal. Leadership
Speaker 2: is a shift. It's no longer just about your individual performance.
Speaker 2: It's about guiding a team, making decisions that impact others,
Speaker 2: and setting it up tone for the culture around you.
Speaker 2: You may find yourself wondering am I ready for this?
Speaker 2: Will my team respect me? How do I balance authority
Speaker 2: with approachability? And what if I make a mistake? These
Speaker 2: are valid concerns, but here's the good news. Every great
Speaker 2: leader has been exactly where you are right now. The
Speaker 2: difference between those who thrive and those who struggle often
Speaker 2: comes down to how they approach these crucial first ninety days.
Speaker 2: This period isn't about having all the answers. It's about
Speaker 2: setting a strong foundation. It's about listening, learning and leading
Speaker 2: with intention. You don't have to prove yourself overnight, but
Speaker 2: you do need to be proactive in building trust, establishing credibility,
Speaker 2: and understanding your new role. From a leadership perspective, stepping
Speaker 2: into leadership is a journey. It's not a single moment
Speaker 2: in time, but the way you start can define your
Speaker 2: leadership trajectory. So let's make sure your first ninety days
Speaker 2: set you up for long term success. So the first
Speaker 2: question you have to ask yourself is what are you
Speaker 2: worried about? And in my experience, I've observed that new
Speaker 2: leaders worry about a few key things. Earning respect, will
Speaker 2: my team take me seriously? And making mistakes? What if
Speaker 2: I make the wrong call, impostor syndrome? Do I really
Speaker 2: belong in this position? In balancing relationships? How do I
Speaker 2: transition from being one of them to being the one
Speaker 2: in charge? So let's break this down and then we
Speaker 2: can map out what your first ninety days should look like.
Speaker 2: So first, let's start with overcoming the fear and impostor syndrome.
Speaker 2: That voice in your head saying you're not ready for this,
Speaker 2: or someone else could do this better. That's impostor syndrome.
Speaker 2: Almost every leader faces it at some point in the truth,
Speaker 2: you were chosen for this role for a reason. You
Speaker 2: belong here. Here's how to quiet that doubt. Acknowledge it,
Speaker 2: but don't let it control you self. Doubt is normal,
Speaker 2: but it doesn't define you. Remember, leadership is a journey,
Speaker 2: not a title. No one expects you to be perfect
Speaker 2: on day one, and focus on action, not perfection. Every day,
Speaker 2: do something that moves your team forward. This is where
Speaker 2: goal setting and mind mapping becomes a priority for you. Next,
Speaker 2: let's focus on balancing relationships. One of the biggest challenges
Speaker 2: in stepping into leadership, especially if you're promoted from within,
Speaker 2: is navigating the shift from one of them to leader.
Speaker 2: Yesterday you were part of the group. Today you're the
Speaker 2: one setting expectations, making decisions, and holding others accountable. The
Speaker 2: key to balancing relationships is establishing clear but respectful boundaries.
Speaker 2: You don't have to abandon friendships, but you do need
Speaker 2: to redefine them in a way that prioritizes fairness, consistency,
Speaker 2: and professionalism. Leadership isn't about being liked, It's about being respected,
Speaker 2: and by leading within integrity, communicating openly, and treating everyone
Speaker 2: with fairness, you'll learn the trust of your team without
Speaker 2: compromising your authority. Next is your first ninety days and
Speaker 2: what to focus on Your first three months as a
Speaker 2: leader will set the foundation for your success. Here's what
Speaker 2: you should prioritize your first thirty days. Focus on listening
Speaker 2: and learning. Meet with your team. Have one on one
Speaker 2: conversations with everyone. Ask them what's working well, what challenges
Speaker 2: do they face? How can you support them and observe
Speaker 2: before making big changes, don't come in thinking that you
Speaker 2: need to fix everything on day one and focus on
Speaker 2: building relationships. People don't follow titles, they follow leaders that
Speaker 2: they trust. In day thirty one through sixty, focus on
Speaker 2: establishing yourself. Set expectations. Make sure your team knows what
Speaker 2: you expect and what they can expec from you, and
Speaker 2: make sure all of this is in line with the
Speaker 2: core values and mission of the organization, and then identify
Speaker 2: quick wins. Find small but meaningful ways to improve things.
Speaker 2: This builds momentum. This is why I always have a
Speaker 2: small notebook you'll find the quick wins easily. Just make
Speaker 2: sure to jot them down in your notes and communicate constantly.
Speaker 2: Keep your team informed and engaged, keep them in the loop.
Speaker 2: They will develop a sense of buy in if you're open, honest,
Speaker 2: and transparent. And one critical point to make here when
Speaker 2: you're communicating back to your team, don't use this time
Speaker 2: to talk poorly about other people, especially if you're talking
Speaker 2: about small roadblocks or something that didn't go right. New
Speaker 2: leaders make the mistake of thinking they're connecting with their
Speaker 2: team and scoring bonus points, but in fact they're undermining
Speaker 2: their own leadership reputation when they speak poorly of others.
Speaker 2: In day sixty one through ninety, this is the time
Speaker 2: to strengthen and lead. Start making bigger decisions now that
Speaker 2: you understand the landscape, take action and develop your leadership style.
Speaker 2: Be authentic. You don't need to mimic other leaders. Find
Speaker 2: what works for you, and continue learning. Leadership is an
Speaker 2: ongoing process. Seek mentorship, read and grow. Every great leader
Speaker 2: started where you are now, uncertain, nervous, but willing to learn.
Speaker 2: Your job isn't to have all the answers, it's to
Speaker 2: guide your team make smart decisions. And always be improving.
Speaker 2: Stepping into your first leadership role can be both exciting
Speaker 2: and nerve wracking. You might worry about earning respect, making mistakes,
Speaker 2: or struggling with imposter syndrome. Your first ninety days sets
Speaker 2: the tone for your leadership journey. Approach them with confidence, humility,
Speaker 2: and a focus on action, and you'll build a strong
Speaker 2: foundation for success. This has been the seven Minute Leadership Podcast,
Speaker 2: and I thank you for listening.
Speaker 1: For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot com.