Transitioning into a senior leadership role marks a significant milestone in one’s career. As a leader of leaders, you are no longer just responsible for your tasks and immediate team but for shaping the direction and effectiveness of multiple teams. To succeed in this new role, it is essential to reframe your leadership identity. This process begins with promoting yourself—not just in title but in mindset and actions.
Here are some suggestions for how to give yourself a promotion, to allow yourself to step into the new role that is required of you:
1. Embrace Your New Role
The first step in promoting yourself is to fully embrace your new role. This means letting go of the habits and mindsets that defined your previous positions. Your old ways may have contributed to your success, but they are not necessarily the practices that will make you successful in your new role.
Action Tip: Start referring to yourself by your new title, both internally and externally. This simple shift in language can help solidify your new identity and remind you of the different responsibilities and expectations that come with it.
2. Develop a Strategic Vision
As a leader of leaders, your role is no longer about managing tasks but about setting a strategic vision for your teams. This involves understanding the bigger picture and how each team contributes to the organisation’s goals.
Action Tip: Spend time crafting a clear and compelling vision for your teams. Communicate this vision regularly to ensure alignment and motivation across all levels of leadership.
3. Shift from Task Management to People Development
Your primary focus should now be on developing your team leaders. Empower them to take ownership of their roles and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed.
Action Tip: Implement regular one-on-one meetings with your team leaders to discuss their goals, challenges, and development needs. Offer mentorship and coaching to help them grow into their roles.
4. Foster a Culture of Collaboration
Promoting yourself also means fostering a culture of collaboration and trust within your organisation. Encourage open communication and create an environment where team leaders feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns.
Action Tip: Establish regular leadership meetings where team leaders can collaborate, share insights, and problem-solve together. This not only builds a sense of community but also leverages the collective wisdom of your leadership team.
5. Focus on Results, Not Processes
While processes are important, your new role requires you to focus on outcomes. Evaluate the effectiveness of your teams based on the results they achieve, rather than the methods they use.
Action Tip: Set clear, measurable goals for your teams and track their progress. Celebrate successes and provide constructive feedback to guide improvements.
5. Learn How to Implement Sandboxes
To feel confident in your new role as a Leader of Leaders, it’s crucial to have clarity about how to create space for your Team Leaders to lead effectively. This will provide you with a roadmap for transitioning into and excelling in the role of setting strategy and exerting influence at a higher level. Sandboxes are a powerful tool to facilitate this transition, which is why we teach it early to new Leaders of Leaders. Implementing sandboxes involves defining the responsibilities, authority, and accountability for each of your Team Leaders and clearly communicating these to them. As you begin this process, you will gain the clarity and confidence needed to thrive in your new leadership role.
Action Tip: Learn how to use the Being Leaders Sandbox tool for effective delegation and start having sandbox conversations with your leaders. You can find more information about this tool in the Becoming a Leader of Leaders book or in our other blog posts.
6. Invest in Continuous Learning
Leadership is a journey, not a destination. To continue growing in your role, commit to lifelong learning. Stay updated on the latest leadership theories, tools, and best practices.
Action Tip: Attend leadership workshops, read books, and seek out coaching and mentorship opportunities. Encourage your team leaders to do the same and share their learnings with the broader team. Find out more about the Leadership Coaching we offer at Being Leaders.
In Summary
Reframing your leadership identity is a critical step in becoming a successful leader of leaders. By embracing your new role, developing a strategic vision, focusing on people development, fostering collaboration, prioritising results, and investing in continuous learning, you can effectively promote yourself and thrive in your new leadership position.
Remember, this transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It requires intentional effort and a willingness to adapt. But with time and persistence, you will find yourself not just managing teams, but truly leading them towards greater success and impact.
