Changes in leadership often come with a natural apprehension. What direction will the new leader take? How does that impact your future? However, with the right mindset and a smart approach, changes in leadership can lead to great opportunities. Be proactive about putting in the work to ensure this particular change is good.
Be True to Yourself. Be real! Common mistakes include the extremes of hiding out to escape scrutiny or going over the top in trying to befriend the new leader. Simply show your value and your openness to a new direction and focus. The best advice is to just be who you are.
Observe and Listen. See them in action before you determine what they’re truly like. Get a feel for their leadership style and a clear understanding of their vision so you can more effectively assess your role in terms of the value it adds for them. Then, ask how you can even better support their primary objectives.
Expect and Accept Change. Make sure you know how success is defined under the new leadership and be open to the fact that this may change your current day-to-day experience. It requires flexibility on your part to move away from the way things have always been done. Remember that these changes benefit the business — it isn’t a reflection of your personal performance.
Reevaluate Your Past Performance. Do a critical, objective review of your role. Determine ways you can improve and adapt to align with leadership objectives and to better support your teammates. Share your plan with management and confirm that your efforts are focused in the right direction.
Many positives emerge from new leadership. While such a significant change can feel unsettling, it also presents exciting new opportunities. With the right perspective and proactiveness, leadership change can be a catalyst for you to advance in ways that you never expected.