Adopting to a new environment is going to be a challenge and it is going to be new to you. The way change happens and is led will different to the world you are used to . How different ?
Adopting quickly
To be able to lead in new world will mean understanding things you have taken for granted all over again. To gain credibility you will need to understand the new context, the issues, the sources of power and the pitfalls. To be able to do this will require moving into new environments more frequently, looking for how things work and not assuming they will follow the same old rules.
Asking right questions
The ability to ask the right questions comes to the forefront, as it becomes a more valuable asset than knowing the right answers. A leader becomes known for the speed in which they can come to terms with the new rules and start relating to the situation, not the speed in which they can impose a pre-made solution.
Building credibility in a new environment is described by Lord Puttnam, President of UNICEF and advisor to the department of education. " As an Advisor, I visited more schools than anyone else. I remember hearing an interview with Paula Radcliffe, the long distance runner. She said there were all kinds of clever training techniques but that, in the end, the fundamental issue was how many miles a week you do" is what matters.
More understanding
- Be wondering how to cope with challenges to your legitimacy or how you can acclimatize to this new world.
- Be considering whether to take a stand on an issue and what it will feel like if you do.
- Be operating in new and different environment and it feel lonely
- Be a newly promoted leader and are finding it difficult or different to operate at this level
- Be struggling to understand whether leading beyond your authority is really very different to what you currently do.
R.Ramakrishnan
31st Aug 08
No comments:
Post a Comment