The Art of Stepping Up Into a Bigger Role – Do It Your Way!

 

After the initial thrill of the promotion, a broader remit and a seat at the new table, how will you settle into your new role?  Naturally, you want to be relaxed, and confident, have a few healthy nerves and be ready to make a difference.

 

What I want, is for you to have a blast, make a positive difference to others and do it YOUR way.

 

What might stand in your way?   

 

Aside from acquiring the required knowledge, for me, it was usually how well I managed the “airtime” in my mind.  The assortment of thoughts and ideas vying for attention.

In other words, how well I managed my mindset.

 

In my experience it really doesn’t matter how ready you are for the role or how capable you are of doing it, if you have a human-thinking brain you will experience a mix of thoughts and emotions, some favourable and some unfavourable.

The stronger your capability to focus positively, optimistically and with confidence the better you will perform and the more you will enjoy it.

 

To varying degrees, you are likely to experience the following thoughts:

 

• • Those people don’t think I’m ready, capable, a good fit…
  • Who am I to think I can operate at this level?
  • What if this makes me even busier and takes over my life?
  • But I am not good at <fill in the blanks>
  • How long before I’m found out?
  • I’ll have to work twice as hard to pull this off.
  • What if I fail?
  • I don’t know enough about <fill in the blanks>

 

These thoughts might be fleeting, nanosecond ideas that you’re able to quickly dismiss or they could set up home in your mind and cause a lot of trouble.

 

The extent to which you can master your mind determines how much you thrive and succeed.  A mind crippled with self-doubt seriously impacts your nervous system.  The negative feelings create physical symptoms in your body and set up a corresponding behaviour.

 

For example:

• Negative thinking = negative feeling = negative behaviour

• Doubtful thinking = uneasy feeling = uncertain behaviour/lacking confidence

 

Of course, the opposite is true:

• Positive thinking = positive feeling = positive behaviour

• Confident thinking = feelings of ease and certainty = confident behaviour

 

While it is true that some people are naturally more positive and optimistic, it’s a habit that anyone can develop.  Our brain’s role in highlighting danger creates a negative thought bias that we must consciously override.

Anyone can, but not everyone does.

 

Develop a rock-solid mindset focused on solutions rather than problems, with positivity over negativity.  In doing so you can transform the way you feel and perform in your new role (and all parts of your life).

Most people do this with the help of a Personal Development Coach, Books or Courses.  In my view, this type of `inner’ work is always a top priority.  It helps you to develop and sustain the mindset and habits of top performers and it’s a game-changer for your results.

 

“Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development, because success is something you attract by the person you become.”

– JIM ROHN

 

Let’s conclude with a glance at the other things you might want to consider, as you step into your new role.

 

Embrace the learning curve:

• • Try to be comfortable with the fact that adapting to new responsibilities, expectations, and skills requirements is part of the journey.
  • Seek mentorship, coaching or training.

 

Increased workload, real or not real?

• • Try to avoid the mindset that a bigger role means a higher workload and focus on how you can do things differently.
  • Take time to re-evaluate how you currently manage your schedule/priorities and make adjustments as appropriate.
  • Set clear intentions about your time and create boundaries before you get started.
  • Map out where you intend to empower others and where you want to be hands-on.

 

Feel into Imposter Syndrome:

• • It’s real and it’s normal, but it’s not a sign that you’re not ready. Allow yourself time to grow into the role and do this with a positive and confident state of mind.
  • A coach or mentor will be beneficial in helping you to manage any doubts or negative self-talk.

 

Build and nurture relationships:

1. • Consider your stakeholder map and adjustments needed in your new role.
   • Be ready to put in more effort in the early days as you establish trust and navigate the changes with others.

 

Adapt your leadership style:

1. • Your own style may need to be adapted as you step into bigger leadership roles, so do some self-reflection and set intentions about the type of leader you would like to be.
   • Consider your working habits and how they may need to be adjusted, where might you need to be more nurturing than assertive, directive rather than passive or delegate rather than do…?

 

And finally, start each new day with an attitude of service.  Leadership is a service role, seek to give more than you get and be the type of leader you would want to work for.