Congratulations, you have stepped up into a more senior HR role – the first time leading a team. You wanted this role because you love what you do, and you know that you can do a good job as the leader.
However, you are finding that you are going to more meetings. You’re starting work earlier, finishing later, then working again after the family is in bed. You’re spending weekends catching up on the work you didn’t get done during the week.
There seems to be so much to do. There is a queue of people at your desk, or sending you instant messages, and asking you questions. It’s faster to give the answer because you are the HR expert and know this stuff, than take the time to help the team work it out for themselves.
You’re stuck in a vicious cycle of reacting, redoing, and responding. You didn’t expect this unrelenting amount of work. You may not know this, but people new to managing are not usually taught to how to level up into their new role. Now, you are in a state of overwhelm which means you will start to operate at a level too low, being too immersed in the detail, and pushing your team down so they will start to operate at a level below where they should and can be.
Levelling up is required, and urgently. This takes a mindset shift and some improvement in your behavioural skills. Which are also called ‘soft’ or ‘people’ skills and are crucial as you start to lead people. That HR technical expertise, that got you this promotion, are not the skills needed now. Behavioural skills include things like how you are communicating and listening, being able to deal with challenging people, giving and receiving feedback, building rapport, delegating, and managing conflict, to name a few.
When you start to level up, you can start focusing on doing less of the work that your team should be doing and building your team’s capability so they can perform better and take on more responsibility.
That’s the thing about leading. The person you were in your old, HR ‘doing’ role must morph into another style of person. You need to approach things differently to lead the team well, so that you’re all performing at the right level. This is about letting go of what you used to do.
Let’s check in:
- How are you really getting on in this new management role? Have you levelled up or are you in overwhelm?
- Do you find it easier to do everything yourself rather than teaching others what you know?
Level Up
Levelling up means focusing on the work appropriate for your role. This is what will make you a memorable HR manager – that leader who brings a level of wisdom to your role and creates a transformational influence for your team, where you make the decisions and take the actions and risks needed to have the impact you seek to have. You do this because you truly want to make a difference in this organisation.
Lets’ take a look at the three critical outcomes needed for exceptional success:
Engagement – meaning being personally engaged in how effectively you lead. The measure for your level of engagement is what you are getting from your team. Which requires that you have the right awareness to support each team member with what they need to perform at their best. You can then enjoy increased buy-in from the team.
Predictable Performance – means understanding how, as a leader, you can shift the organisation from situational overwhelm to productive control. Your team are doing what they are expected to do. The work is in safe hands, and you don’t need to be across every tiny detail, you can have a more outward focus and concentrate on high value work, appropriate for your pay grade. Your area stands out and the team outperforms similar teams.
Team Empowerment – meaning the level of empowerment each member of your team experiences to go above and beyond expectations with their role. This is one significant output of your engaged leadership. This requires leaders to create: a sense of purpose, urgency, and accountability with their staff so they can operate almost autonomously. The individuals in your team stand out for their exceptional performance.
When you level up the whole team’s productivity increases, as does team engagement and collaboration, and they can take on extra responsibility. You have some time back in your day to start focusing on that higher value, future focused work you didn’t have time for before, and more time outside of work to relax and rejuvenate.
You start to be noticed for the good work you and your team are doing and your career will start to soar. This is leading, which requires new skills, so be prepared to become a learner again.
Maree Burgess is a trainer, coach and the author of Level Up
