So you’ve finally made it to management. Here’s how you stay there—and keep climbing the leadership ladder.
Leaders operate differently than solo performers and require a distinct mindset and skillset. In this article for Fast Company, leadership coach Bill Treasurer, author of Leadership: Two Words at a Time, advises newly appointed executives to develop “leadership fitness” to attain sustainable success. He outlines three steps toward developing this crucial trait: master yourself, nurture your team, and focus on results.
In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, resilient leadership has become a crucial skill for success. “3 Strategies to Become the Resilient Leader You Were Meant to Be” by Bill Treasurer offers invaluable insights to help you unlock your true potential and thrive as a leader.
Discover how to transform yourself into a resilient leader by exploring these game-changing strategies. Keep reading to gain the knowledge and tools you need to excel in any situation.
Table of Contents
Genres
Leadership, Personal Development, Business, Self-Help, Psychology, Management, Entrepreneurship, Career Development, Motivation, Professional Growth
Bill Treasurer’s book, “3 Strategies to Become the Resilient Leader You Were Meant to Be,” provides a roadmap for developing the resilience necessary to navigate the complexities of leadership. The author presents three key strategies: embracing discomfort, cultivating courage, and fostering a growth mindset.
By implementing these strategies, leaders can effectively adapt to change, overcome obstacles, and inspire their teams to achieve extraordinary results. Treasurer emphasizes the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone, confronting fears, and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
The book offers practical exercises and real-life examples to help readers develop their resilience muscles and become the leaders they were meant to be.
Review
“3 Strategies to Become the Resilient Leader You Were Meant to Be” is a must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their leadership skills and navigate the challenges of the modern workplace. Bill Treasurer’s writing style is engaging, and his insights are both practical and thought-provoking.
The book’s structure is well-organized, with each strategy clearly explained and supported by relevant examples and actionable advice. Treasurer’s emphasis on embracing discomfort and cultivating courage is particularly valuable, as these are often overlooked aspects of leadership development.
While some of the concepts may be familiar to seasoned leaders, the book offers a fresh perspective and provides a comprehensive framework for building resilience. Overall, this book is an essential resource for leaders at all levels who want to unlock their full potential and lead with confidence in the face of adversity.
Take-Aways
- To become a better executive, develop your “leadership fitness.”
- Master yourself.
- Nurture and develop your team members.
- Focus on generating results.
Summary
To become a better executive, develop your “leadership fitness.”
Promotion to a management position is only the first step in your leadership journey. The individual performance that brought you an executive role won’t make you a good leader who performs successfully for years to come. That will take work.
“Then your success was largely reliant upon yourself. Now your success is contingent upon the engagement, productivity, and performance of those you’re leading.”
Being a leader will challenge you. You must deliver without fail even if you lack sufficient resources, struggle with bureaucratic processes, and must navigate office politics and people’s irksome quirks. You will have less time to maintain a healthy balance between work, personal matters, and family, so you must give it more thought. However, leading others and shouldering extra responsibilities is fulfilling. You can apply your creativity and set the path for your team and your organization while making meaningful contributions to other people’s growth – and to their careers.
Master yourself.
To develop self-mastery:
- Consider lessons you learned during your career and role models who inspired you. Be clear about your “sunshine and shadows,” your strengths and weaknesses.
- Identify your key values. What do you stand for and what code do you live by? Your values contribute to the fortitude you will need as a leader.
- Stay humble. Listen to other people and pay attention to their counsel. If you want to be respected, respect others.
Nurture and develop your team members.
To enable your team to grow, provide a physically and psychologically safe space. Make it comfortable for team members to take risks and try new ideas; don’t be punitive about “forward-falling mistakes.”
Every two weeks, spend at least 15 minutes with each team member to discuss more than ongoing projects. Go talk to them in their space. Your purpose in these one-on-ones is to build relationships, not to monitor their performance. Ask about their life and concerns beyond work. Listen to feedback with care.
“Ask how they’re doing and what you can do for them. Those 15 minutes will dramatically strengthen the relationship and build mutual respect and loyalty.”
Make sure your team is inclusive and equitable. Support your team members in being fully engaged and participatory.
Focus on generating results.
Your company promoted you to a leadership role so you could deliver outstanding results. This is the benchmark higher-ups will use to evaluate your performance.
“Set clear plans, goals, and milestones. Review progress intently. Equip people with the tools and resources they need. Provide coaching and feedback. Reward stellar performance. Be fiscally disciplined.”
Make sure you have a sound grasp of the main aspects of management and educate yourself about any areas in which you don’t feel fully confident. Being a leader requires keeping a budget, understanding personnel management, and being sure your team has the equipment and resources it needs.
Stay in constant learning mode, and keep a journal to track your lessons. Talk with other leaders, especially those you look up to, so you learn from them. Ask about the criteria they use to make decisions. Expand your professional horizons by networking and joining industry leadership associations.
“You can be loyal to your boss and loyal to yourself at the same time.”
Find ways to contribute to the success of your team members and higher-ups. For your team members, keep them informed, support their practical and personal needs, and give useful feedback. For your boss, be supportive and forthcoming. And for yourself and everyone else, over-deliver on results.
About the Author
Bill Treasurer, a leadership coach and CEO of Giant Leap Consulting, is also the author of Leadership Two Words at a Time: Simple Truths for Leading Complicated People; Leaders Open Doors: A Radically Simple Leadership Approach to Lift People, Profits, and Performance; Unlocking Horns: Courageous Conflict at Work; and other leadership titles.