Where do I begin?!

Congrats! You are now the one in charge and living large!! So, what do you do now? You just have to show up and sit in the office right? Go tell everyone what to do and they will just go do it, right? I don't have to follow up to the team, right?

This question I receive at least 3- 4 times a week and I think it's a great question to ask! Let's dive in on "Where do I begin" when you become a leader.

If are looking for a starting point because you were just promoted then look no further! I am going to give some real world point of views that can help you feel like you have a grasp to build upon your journey.

Start with "YOU", the first person you will lead more than anyone is... yourself. So, what does that mean? It means you have to know who you are and what you want to stand for, what will be your mark on your industry/location? What are you going to draw the line in the sand on and what is going to be your mission in your work place. These are questions to ask yourself and write down those answers as if you were asking someone else.

Writing those answers down will give you visual approach versus just a mental response. Seeing answers written will help you visualize and achieve faster because they are now written down and out of your head. Your mind stays far too busy to try and remember everything. Don't be afraid to write down what you want or challenge yourself for better answers.

Clear expectations are the key to everything!

Be precise in your messages and know that the direction you are taking is the way you want to go. Don't fear that every decision you make has to be the correct one, in fact the best leaders are that way because they made many mistakes which made them better in the end.

Understanding the goal or measurable metric you are chasing will require direction to be given and guess where it will come from? You, my friend.

When you have to deliver a message to your team or a change to operating procedure, don't be afraid to take the time you need! I see too many leaders read a memo/direction email once and then run right out and hold a meeting... I bet you have been part of those meetings where everyone was more confused at the end then in the beginning. Make sure you understand what it is you have to explain. Again, write down the questions you have on a sheet of paper and answer them. This will give you more credibility with your teams when they feel confident you know what you are explaining.

Looking for more ways to begin? Stay tuned for 'Where do I begin Esp. 2" coming soon!

Make sure to drop a like and comment what you think about the article or question you have!