compass

Note: the Seven Key Questions for Ambitious, Aspiring Leaders, are presented in the book, Practical Lessons in Leadership by Art Petty and Rich Petro.  I’ll explore each question here at Building Better Leaders through individual “Leadership Tip of the Day” posts, offering ideas for investigation and discussion.

The first three questions in this series challenged you to think through issues that are both philosophical and powerfully practical:

  • Why do you want to lead?
  • Do you understand the true role of a leader?
  • Do you understand that the skills that made you successful as an individual contributor are not the skills that will carry you forward?

The next question in the series builds on #3 by asking you to consider whether you are truly willing to let go of some of that expertise as part of your transformation as a leader.

#4:  Are you prepared to give up domain expertise as your foundation for results?

Consider the cases of the brilliant surgeon that takes on the role as Chief of Staff, or, the skilled tradesperson that becomes a superintendent.  Add in the successful teacher that becomes a school principal and the successful law enforcement officer that is promoted to ride a desk.  While  prior experience and  long-developed skills will prove valuable in the new pursuits, a very different set of skills are required for success.

The new skills focus more on supporting and serving others through teaching, mentoring and guiding.  Instead of being the expert, the newly minted leader is now in charge of helping others develop expertise. For many moving from the role of individual contributor or knowledge worker to the role of leader, this loss of sense of self and the need to reinvent prove traumatic.

For good or bad, we tend to identify not only with our jobs but with the work and skills that others acknowledge us for in our daily lives.  Thoroughly investigating and forming answers for questions 1-3 is a critical first step.  Once you’ve progressed through those important questions, it’s time to stare in the mirror and ask and answer  question #4. If you conclude that you cannot let go…that your skills are who you are, then say no.  If you are OK with the notion of reinventing yourself, then keep moving forward.

The only mistake is to not ask and answer these questions honestly.