Looking back over my career, many of the worst leadership disasters I’ve encountered, happened when a leader stepped into a new situation and tried to make changes too quickly. The changes may have been needed, but they simply happened too soon. In almost every case, the leader didn’t allow enough time to establish a relationship with the team, didn’t fully understand the existing culture, and didn’t realize just how difficult “change” was for most people.
Smarter and more experienced leaders take their time. They allow a period to break the ice, let relationships grow, and build trust with the team. In so many words, they make the effort to win the team over to their way of thinking.
Only after that, do they start making significant changes.
So if you’re stepping into leadership in a new situation, take your time. Have a little patience and learn the people, the chemistry, and the culture.
You can fight it out, or build trust.
It’s your choice. Choose wisely.
This article about too many changes resulting in leadership disasters originally appeared here and is used by permission.
