4 Traps to Avoid as a New Leader

There are four traps many new leaders fall into.  Whether you are new to a company or to your role, the first 90 days can be the most impactful.  When you are new to your leadership role, you don’t know the players and the landscape.  Don’t inadvertently sabotage yourself by not paying full attention and not being fully present to avoid these leadership traps.

“I am going to impress you.”

If your attention is on how to make yourself look good or impress others, then you might as well not be there because you’re in your head, not in the room. Instead of others being impressed, they will simply notice you trying too hard, and wonder, what is this person trying to cover up?

Instead, during this time, pay close attention to cultural norms.  How to people interact with one another?  What is the tone? 

“I’m scared out of my mind.”

When all your thoughts are focused on how others will find out how much you don’t know, that’s exactly what they will see.  Because of this, you will avoid opportunities to speak up and contribute value because you are so fearful.  People will lose confidence in you even when they don’t have a reason to do so.   

What can you do when this thought creeps in?  Focus on language – both verbal and non-verbal.  Use language familiar to the organization.  For example, do they typically use “we/our” or “me/my”?  Also, pay close attention to how the physical environment is set up and the amount of personalization other leaders have in their workspace. 

“I know”

You think you were selected for this role because you know more than the others that work there.  Perhaps you even think you were brought in to fix, rescue or save. Even if your job is, in fact, to turn around an underperforming group, if you act like a know it all, your attitude will communicate arrogance and will not generate the respect that you need.

Look at key processes – what is working well and what could be built upon?  Watch your staff in key meetings to see if they are well prepared.  If not, take time to mentor them on how to be prepared so they gain respect from key stakeholders. 

“Who’s important”

If you come in with an agenda to quickly identify the most powerful people and visibly align yourself with them, you are only going to hurt yourself in the long run. As a newbie, you need to be able to talk with everyone and glean useful information from them. By prioritizing the powerful people, you’re sending a clear message to everyone else that you don’t need them.

It is natural to want to figure out who are key players.  Instead, focus on inclusion.  When you include others, they will naturally include you when important decisions need to be made.

Your first 90 days as a new leader can be intimidating.  Take the time to learn, learn, learn while establishing key relationships within the organization.  Treat each conversation like it’s the most important one and absorb everything.  Asking open-ended, inviting questions will help everyone feel more at ease and allow you to learn much more quickly. 

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Creating a High Functioning and Inviting Home Office

Working from home sounds great – the lack of commute, dress code and the ability to structure your day how you see fit all make telecommuting an aspiration for a lot of workers. Getting the right set up at home can make or break your routine, though. Placing an office in a highly trafficked area of the house or setting up too small of a workspace are simple mistakes with big consequences. There are plenty of elements to consider when you are setting up a high-functioning and inviting home office. Take the time to create a plan for your new workspace – this will save you time and make you more productive in the long run.

Identify Your Must-Haves

The first step in creating a great home office is drafting a list of must-haves. These include the basics such as a desk, phone, computer and other office equipment. Other needs will vary by industry and your own personal preferences. Consider this: if you are in a creative industry, do you need a large desk workspace where artwork can be stored? Or if you prefer to keep some paper documents confidential, do you have a need for more storage space than the average home office? All of these items should go on your must-haves list. Making sure they are available to you before you start working from home can streamline the transition.

Choose the Right Space

Not all home offices have a room of their own, but that does not mean that there is no thought put into their location. If your home is bustling with family and pets, but you prefer to work in a quiet environment, placing your office near the kitchen or another highly trafficked area of the house will not result in effective work. Choosing a tranquil area, such as a guest room can yield much better productivity.

Keep in mind how much equipment and storage you will need. If you require several large electronics or a large desktop workspace, a kitchen nook workspace will simply be too cluttered. Workspaces with many pieces of equipment and storage would be better off in a separate room.

Make it Inviting

Last but not least, make your office space an inviting place. If you think that the décor won’t make a difference in your productivity, think again. The most innovative companies in the world invest in creating open and inviting workspaces. This is because appealing offices make for happier, more productive workers. Working from home means that you can be your own innovator. Choosing a workspace that has lots of natural light, placing a few appropriate plants and keeping things neat and tidy can go a long way toward helping you stay focused throughout the day.

Setting up a plan for creating an inviting, functional home office is a simple and effective way for freelancers, consultants and telecommuters to ensure their productivity when working from home. It’s a simple step that shows a small amount of planning and foresight can lead to positive results.

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