Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or taking on a new team, there are essential things to consider as you assume your role. It’s common practice to create a 90-day plan or a roadmap to get a grasp on the business and understand how your team fits into the bigger picture. While this is important, there’s more to being an effective leader than understanding the mechanics of the organization.

Here are a few key areas to keep in mind as you navigate a leadership transition.

1. Lead Yourself First

Before you can lead others, it’s crucial to lead yourself. This means reflecting on what you stand for as a leader—your values, your philosophy, and your guiding principles. Be clear on what these are, and make it a priority to live by them every day.

It sounds simple, but in the daily rush of getting things done, it’s easy to lose sight of how you’re showing up. Without intentionality, there’s often a gap between our espoused values and the way people experience us. Closing that gap requires consistent self-reflection, adjustment and commitment. 

2. Define Success for the Team

As you take the reins of your new team, think about what success looks like. What is it you are collectively trying to accomplish? What are the key priorities and objectives? Where do you want to lead this team, and how will you measure success?

This should be a collaborative process that honors the team’s past successes and lays the foundation for where they are headed. Reflect on where the team has come from, the current milestones, and how you can guide and support them toward the next chapter. Defining success should also include clarifying why it matters—what is the purpose of this team, and what impact are you seeking to make?

3. Establish or Reset Operating Norms

This is an ideal time to review or reset the operating norms of the team. Often, teams fall into patterns because “it’s the way things have always been done.” As a new leader, you have the opportunity to reassess and optimize how things get done to improve the team’s performance. This could involve resetting meeting cadences, agendas, or even how you conduct strategic check-ins.

Consider what’s working, what’s not, and where improvements can be made to ensure the team operates efficiently and effectively.

4. Set Ground Rules for Team Engagement

Finally, take this opportunity to establish or recalibrate ground rules for how team members will engage with each other and help reinforce two-way trust. These rules act as a social contract, setting expectations for behavior, communication, and collaboration.

When setting ground rules, consider addressing areas such as transparency, accountability, conflict resolution, and the value of relationships. Involving the team in this process fosters ownership and alignment, creating a foundation of mutual respect and clear expectations.

Recap:

As you take the helm of a new team, it’s essential to:

• Recalibrate your personal leadership philosophy and values, and share them with your team.
• Define what success looks like for your team, why it matters, and how you’ll achieve it.
• Set or reset the operating norms to optimize performance.
• Establish clear ground rules to ensure effective engagement and collaboration.

Leadership is a journey of constant growth and reflection, and these foundational steps will set you and your team up for success as you move forward together.  

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